"Do you need to leave so quickly?" Lana asked.
"Well… not so quickly, no." Ares said as they lay there together. It was only turning evening, but Ares felt so tired after thinking for so much.
Runar slapped the back of Ares' head, as if to tell him to not go. Ares reached up and then hoisted the girl up to his chest, and after a moment of squirming, she seemed fine. She snuggled up close to his chest and Ares could feel the tickling of her breath.
"I just think th-"
"You think too much," Lana said as she reached over and then pulled him closer so Runar was pinned between their chests. Her grip was iron tight against his elbow, wrapping it around herself as though he was her blanket.
Ares felt the hot flush flow through his body, like a stream of gentle embers. "I need to heal myself, the pain is becoming quite…"
"Quite?"
"It just hurts," Ares said. He did not want to admit to Lana about just how painful it could flare up.
"You can't go alone."
Ares nodded. "I won't."
