"You are... leaving?" Flare asked slowly as he looked up at Mian. His bright eyes shook ever so slightly as they began to water.
"Hey, it's okay. I won't be gone for too long." Mian pulled Flare into a hug. He patted the smaller Werecat on the head as he waited for him to calm down.
Ten minutes later, Flare pulled back while wiping furiously at his puffy eyes.
"Why do you have to go? You only just got back!" Flare glared at Mian, not understanding why the demi-human he saw as an older brother was thinking of going on an adventure in the wilderness.
Mian sighed deeply. He felt guilty for leaving Flare so suddenly after he got back. The young dominant had been scared that he was dead during his time in captivity, and now, he was pulling another stunt and intended to disappear for a year or even longer.
He finally recollected his thoughts and sighed deeply.
"It's something I have to do. I can't explain it, but I just want some time away from all the stress of the pack. A little freedom can go a long way. I just need some space." Mian shrugged helplessly. He truly had no ay of properly explaining how he felt to the younger demi-human.
But Flare was smart, so he easily understood the reason Mian felt like leaving for some time. Mian had been bullied for most of his life, and ever since Flare first met Mian, he had been in that situation.
He still remembered how he and Mian met. He had been exploring the caves in the mountain when he heard the sounds of crying coming from a small opening. Upon crawling into the opening to inspect the sound, he had seen Mian clutching his arm where a few gashes could be seen dripping blood.
At first, Flare had been confused upon seeing Mian bleeding, but he soon understood that powerful toxins were running rampant through his blood stream and causing him unimaginable pain.
Flare had truly felt for Mian and had gone out to find Daven, who had used the healing enzymes in his saliva to heal the injury and Purge the toxins.
(A/N: I have not really brought up the issue of the healing enzymes that demi-humans possess. You will see more mentions of this in Volume Two, but I guess it is self explanatory. You can say it if you don't understand in the comment section.)
Ever since that moment, Flare made sure to check up on Mian everyday. He would sneak away food for Mian since he knew that Mian was always bullied out of eating with the others, and he would also sneak some soft furs away to help Mian get through the winter or any particularly cold period.
It was no surprise that Mian was considering leaving for some time.
"Fine! When are you leaving?" Flare finally managed to get his emotions under control and gave Mian a hard look.
"Um… In a couple of days, I guess." Mian replied with a strained smile.
"Fine. You just have to promise to spend the time you have left with me, or I'll make sure you never leave!" Flare stuck out his tongue as he pounced on Mian to give him another hug.
"I promise. I'll spend the remaining time I have left with you." Mian laughed and patted Flare's head.
Unknown to the little Werecat, Miam had already left a gift that would help him in his growth.
[Are you sure, Host? This dominant will already be a dominant in the middle tier.]
Hana asked for confirmation of Mian's wishes.
'Yes, I am sure. Do it.'
[Allocating Evolution Points to Flare. Demi-human rank raised from Dominant(mid) to Dominant (high).]
A couple of days later, a small gathering of demi-humans, no more than a dozen gathered around one of the more obscure exits to the mountain.
Daven and Kira stood at the front, comforting a crying Flare.
"I'll miss you." The little dominant said sincerely. His sharp attitude was nowhere to be seen at the moment as he wiped his eyes.
Mian stepped forward and caught the little dominant in a tight hug.
"It's okay, I won't be gone for too long. You can't get rid of me so easily." He smiled as he helped wipe the tears from Flare's eyes.
"Be careful, Mian. Always make sure to set up camp in safe places." Kira spoke up with a soft smile on her face. Daven nodded beside her. He had already spoken to Mian and had no other words to tell him.
"Don't get lost, Mian. We'll be waiting right here when you get back." A black furred Werewolf, Dion, spoke up with a smile of his own.
"Don't worry, you guys are worrying too much. I can take care of myself." Mian grinned and waved before turning to leave. A couple of council members were present and nodded respectfully at Mian before retuyto their duties.
Flare burst into tears again when Mian disappeared between the dense vegetation of the forest.
Mian had left. To start a new chapter of his journey. To see the next adventure that laid on his path. But he will be back.