chapter 4 - Unspoken Goodbyes.

56 4 2
                                    

Scar opened his eyes to see Grian hovering above him, relieved to find the god watching over him while he slept. Although Grian was cautious and often blunt, Scar sensed a genuine concern for his well-being. They had a good conversation the previous night, which Scar hoped had restored some of the trust between them.

As Grian noticed Scar had woken up, he floated down to where the man lay on his makeshift bed. Scar felt apprehensive, but Grian's warm smile put him at ease. "Good morning, Scar. How did you sleep?" Grian asked kindly.

Scar was confused by Grian's sudden kindness. The god was usually straightforward and blunt with him, and Scar had come to expect a certain level of distance between them. Yet, here he was, standing next to him with a genuine concern for his well-being. Scar couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope that perhaps their relationship was on the mend.

"Um, I slept fine, thank you," Scar replied, still unsure of what to make of Grian's behavior. "Is everything okay, Grian?" he asked tentatively.

"I'm fine," Grian responded, a hint of happiness on his face. They talked some more, and Grian couldn't help but smile as Scar went on and on about his village back home. However, when Scar mentioned that he had to return, Grian's smile faded. He knew he didn't like humans, but he had grown to enjoy having Scar around. Would Scar ever come back to the castle? Would he ever see him again? These questions flooded Grian's mind, but he couldn't find any answers.

Grian's thoughts were interrupted when Scar looked at him with uncertainty and said, "You know, I guess i could stay here for a while longer." Grian's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't believe that Scar wanted to stay. "Really? That would be great," Grian replied, trying to hide his excitement. Scar smiled in response.

Scar grabbed his notebook from his bag, glanced down at it and flipped through the filled pages before looking back up at Grian. "But I do have to leave today," he said, a hint of regret in his voice. "I'm running out of resources. I have barely any food left, and I need to get a new notebook." Grian felt a twinge of sadness at the thought of Scar leaving, but he tried to hide it.

As Scar continued to speak, Grian couldn't help but feel the questions flooding his mind once again. Would Scar ever come back? Would he be safe on his journey home? These worries weighed heavily on Grian's mind, and he couldn't find the words to express them.

"Don't worry, G," Scar said, interrupting Grian's thoughts. "I'll be back. I just need to go home to restock on food and make sure my cat is okay." Grian felt a small glimmer of hope at the thought of Scar returning. "G?" he asked, confused by the sudden nickname. "It's a new nickname," Scar said with a smug look on his face. "Do you like it?" Grian couldn't help but smile at the playful tone in Scar's voice. "I love it," he replied, feeling a sense of warmth spread through his body.

A couple of hours later, Grian left Scar to collect his thoughts and headed back to his castle. Scar decided to go to the nearby stream to take a quick bath and clear his mind. He submerged himself in the cool water, feeling its refreshing embrace wash over him, cleansing him of his worries and anxieties. After a few minutes, he emerged from the stream and picked up his clothes from the flimsy branch he had used before.

As he walked back to his camp, Scar couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia wash over him. He had made so many memories in this place, both good and bad. He started to pack up all his belongings, taking his time to savor the last few moments he had in this familiar environment. It was bittersweet, leaving behind the comfort and safety of his makeshift home, but he knew that he had to return to his village to restock and recharge. As he finished packing, Scar couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead of him on his journey home.

As Scar struggled to fit one backpack into the other, his frustration began to mount. He had managed to pack everything he needed, but it seemed that his backpacks had other ideas. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, he managed to cram the second bag into the first and zip it shut. He hoisted the heavy load onto his back and looked around at the campsite he had called home for the past few days.

As he turned to leave, a twinge of guilt shot through him. He had left without saying goodbye to Grian, and he was too far away from the castle now to turn back. Scar sighed heavily, knowing that he had to make it up to his friend. He made a mental note to apologize to Grian the next time he saw him and started the long trek back to his village, hoping that everything would be okay between them when he returned.

———————————————————————————

Grian walked through the dark, dusty library of his castle, his eyes scanning the shelves of books that surrounded him. He stopped at one of his favorites, pulling it off the shelf and cradling it in his hands. As he placed it on his desk, he couldn't help but smile to himself, feeling a sense of joy and warmth in his heart. He dug through his belongings, searching for a sheet of paper and a ribbon, his mind buzzing with excitement. When he found what he was looking for, he began to wrap the book in the neon purple ribbon, the magical energy flowing through him and into the ribbon, making it shine and sparkle like diamonds. With a flick of his wrist, he tied the bow, the ribbon wrapping around the book on its own like a warm embrace.

He picked up the quill, feeling the softness of the feather against his fingertips. The inkwell was already open, the dark liquid within it shimmering in the light. Grian took a deep breath, the scent of the ink filling his nostrils, before he began to write. His handwriting was flawless, each letter perfectly formed and precise. He wrote with care and love, each word a testament to his deep appreciation for Scar. As he finished writing, he looked down at the paper, his heart swelling with emotion. He knew it was blunt but he also knew scar would be overjoyed by it.

"Hey Scar,

Thanks for being my friend. You mean more to me than I let on.

-G. <3"

he wrote, using the nickname Scar had given him. Excitement fizzed in his chest as he stepped outside, his wings unfurling behind him as he soared into the sky. The sun was warm against his skin, and he could feel the wind whipping through his hair. He couldn't wait to see Scar's face when he presented him with his gift. However, as he flew over to Scar's campsite, he noticed that something was wrong. There was no sign of Scar or his belongings. A pang of fear and sadness hit Grian as he landed on the ground, his eyes scanning the empty space where Scar's camp once stood. He felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes as he realized that Scar had left without a word. His heart was heavy with regret and sadness, and he couldn't shake the feeling that he had missed something important. He placed the perfectly wrapped book on the ground, next to where the campfire had once burned, and started to fly back to his home with a heavy heart.

As Grian flew back towards his castle, he couldn't shake off the feeling of emptiness in his heart. He had just found a friend in Scar, and now he was gone without a word. Grian had never been good at dealing with emotions, but he couldn't ignore the pain he felt. He landed on the balcony of his castle and looked out at the vast sky, feeling the weight of the world on his shoulders. But then he remembered the book he had wrapped so carefully for Scar. It was a small gesture, but it was his way of showing that he cared. Grian smiled to himself and took comfort in the thought that Scar would one day return. And when he did, Grian would be ready to welcome him back with open wings.

What if god was one of us?Where stories live. Discover now