Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Fyn woke up pressed against a certain demon's chest.

Surprised, Fyn opened his eyes immediately awoke but froze once he realized Kavan was still there in front of him. Usually, Kavan would have left by now. During the mornings, he would do rounds around the forest, checking and looking for those that would need his help.

It had been cold recently and there was only one place to sleep in Kavan's cave. During the night, when Fyn and Havu had already fallen asleep, Kavan would silently slip next to them. He would wordlessly wrap his wings around Fyn and the serpent, making sure they were warm, even in their sleep. Sheltering them quietly. Fyn always notices when Kavan would rest beside them, but he would never speak out on it.

He relished the warmth. Fyn always had the best sleep when Kavan was next to him. Not that it mattered since usually, Kavan would leave in the morning. Except for this time, he woke up before the demon did. It wasn't surprising to wake up with Kavan next to him. It was surprising because Fyn was sure it was already close to noon and Kavan was still in bed, asleep.

Even though he was confused, Fyn did his best to settle the beating of his heart. He was afraid it might have been too loud, that even Kavan would have heard it. He watched as Kavan slept. Fyn realized that was the very first time he saw Kavan relaxed. It was also only then, Fyn realized, that he saw just how long the demon's lashes really were. And also how dangerously handsome he truly was.

It was a shame, Fyn thought. The villagers of Gashea were more focused on fearing Kavan instead of admiring his out-of-this-world beauty.

Smiling to himself, Fyn watched the demon's chest rise up and down, deep in his slumber. A loose strand of hair falls just above his eyes and Fyn frowned. Raising his hand, he was just about to brush the hair away with his knuckles when he felt something staring at him. Stopping himself, Fyn looked up, and up, and up, and it landed on a white serpent.

Havu was around Kavan's antlers, hanging there.

And it was staring straight at Fyn. Its head bobbed to the side.

Being caught in the act, Fyn panicked. Flushing, he pushes himself immediately off Kavan's chest and scrambles away. He was being loud, he knew that. It would be a miracle if Kavan hadn't awoken because of the noise he just made. If not the noise, because of the rough way Fyn had pushed him. Clutching his chest, he could feel the beating of his heart.

"It's...It's not what you think, Havu," Fyn explained, stuttering as he did. "I did nothing!"

Havu said nothing, he simply slithered off Kavan's antlers and landed in a heap on the demon's chest. Slowly, Kavan opens his eyes, not fully awake just yet. Fyn watched him as he drowsily started patting the space next to him. The space where Fyn usually slept, as if expecting Fyn to still be there. Kavan must have been really sleepy because, after a while, he had fallen asleep once more.

Havu's voice echoes inside of Fyn's mind.

"This is strange."

"You're right," Fyn says, crawling towards the sleeping demon. "It's already close to noon. Shouldn't he be awake and outside by now?"

Softly, Fyn places his hand on Kavan's forehead. It was warm to the touch. Looking at the snake, he asks, "Do...beings like him get sick?"

"I do not know."

Suddenly, Kavan opens his eyes, a gentle expression on his face. Fyn was just about to remove his hand from the demon's forehead when Kavan's arm shot out to stop him. With half-closed eyes, Kavan took his hand and rubbed his cheek against it. Snuggling close. Fyn's breath hitches, and Kavan opened his eyes fully at that.

Letting him go, Kavan attempts to push himself up. But to no avail. He almost falls down again. Sighing, Fyn steadies him and helps him sit up, leaning against the wall of the cave. Worriedly, Fyn asks, "Are you alright, Kavan?"

Kavan seemed to mumble something, but it was so soft that Fyn couldn't hear it. Crawling closer to him, Fyn was surprised when all too quickly, Kavan's head drops and falls just on the crook of his neck. Frozen and stuck in place, Fyn stayed there, listening as Kavan's breath turned soft and breathy. He had fallen asleep again, and right on him. Snuggling close once more.

Looking to the side, Fyn cast a questioning gaze towards Havu.

"Havu...?" He drawled, not sure where to just place his hands. He feels Kavan sniffing his neck, as if by pure instinct. With blood rushing towards his face, Fyn took a deep calming breath. "I think...something's wrong."

There was an odd look on Havu's face as it watched its master.

With a stiff nod towards Fyn, Havu crawls out of the cave. Startled, Fyn whispered in a loud hush, "Havu! What should I do?"

"Just stay still," Havu's voice echoed inside his mind. The serpent's eyes fall on its master, "I am sure master Kavan would appreciate it if you stayed still."

And without another word, Havu crawls outside.

A few moments later, Fyn feels something warm wrap around his waist. Looking down, he sees Kavan's tail wrapped around him. Shaking his head at the absurdity of it all, he finds himself laughing as the tip tickled his side. In that sliver of a second, Fyn forgets where he was, and just who was clinging on to him at that moment.

That's why it came as a surprise when he heard Kavan's raspy voice, "You are being loud."

"Oh," Fyn says almost immediately, covering his mouth a bit. "I didn't mean to wake you."

As if he was uncomfortable, Kavan pushes himself off Fyn's shoulder and then places his head just by Fyn's chest. Snuggling closer. As expected, Fyn flushes and despite himself, he wraps his arms around the demon as Kavan snuggled closer to him, careful not to let his antlers poke him in the chest.

"It is alright," Kavan whispered, muffled with how he was pressing his face against Fyn's chest. Fyn wondered if he could hear the beating of his heart. "I enjoy hearing you speak."

Fyn smiled at that. Then, the smile turned into a small devious smirk. Apparently, the demon was a lot more honest when he was sick. Fyn's mind ran through thousands of things he wanted to ask. But before he could even open his mouth to ask, Kavan mumbled again, "I enjoy having you around... brightening up my cave."

As much as it made Fyn blush, it also made him want to tease the demon.

"Hey," Fyn softly murmured, watching Kavan relax on his chest. He could already tell how funny they looked. With him being as small as he is, being hugged by a huge demon with retractable wings. "You had a funny way of showing that a few days ago. If I could remember correctly, you didn't want me around. You didn't even want to call me by my name."

Fyn felt Kavan wrap his tail around his waist once more, his arms wrapping softly around his waist too, mimicking the motion. Snuggling closer to him, Kavan mumbled sleepily, "I was laying... because Fyn is a beautiful name."

Fyn turned silent, processing the information.

"I am..." Kavan drawled, mumbling again. "Until you, I did not know I could be hap-"

Before Kavan could finish what he was saying, Havu appeared in front of Fyn. Surprising him, he squeaks and covers Kavan's mouth, stopping him from saying whatever it was he was saying. The demon didn't seem to mind, because when Fyn did that, he immediately fell asleep once more.

Havu had an interesting gleam in its eyes, looking at its master who was now clinging to Fyn.

The serpent made no comment, and Fyn was thankful.

He didn't know just how to explain what just happened and why they were in the position they were in.

"I have spoken to the forest," Havu explained, "Since the master is not getting enough prayers, he had grown tired and weary. He had used much of his energy the past few days."

Confused, Fyn asked, "He didn't look like someone who would suddenly become weak."

"Because he rarely becomes weak," Havu said, "Since he is not getting prayers, his energy per day is rationed. However, it had changed recently."

"Changed?"

Havu turned quiet, and that made Fyn curious. "What changed, Havu?"

"In the past," Havu started, staring straight at its master, a thoughtful gleam in the serpent's eyes. "All the master did was fly around during the morning and rest during the night. During the mornings he would help the beings inside the forest and rarely does the beings require hard labor. Flying does not require much energy. Still, the master can only do so for himself."

When Fyn did not speak, Havu continued, "Right now, the master flys during the morning, does his daily rounds around the forest, gets food for you, flying you to the Næps and bringing you back home. It was too much too soon for the master, and he did not yet accustom his body to the change."

"I didn't know that," Fyn mumbled to himself, looking down at Kavan who was still sleeping on his chest. "I shouldn't have asked those things."

Havu shook its head, "Those fruits that he was giving you are not fruits of the season. He was using his powers to speed up the process of the fruit-bearing trees so that he could bring them to you."

With a small gasp, Fyn covers his mouth and looks down once more.

"Why would this idiot even do such a thing knowing he would grow weak?"

"Do not feel guilty," Havu said, consoling him. "You have been here for quite a while, you saw how the master was to the beings inside the forest, you know who the master is. My master knew you loved those fruits, he could tell that you enjoyed it. The master is a kind and gentle soul. No matter what, he would make sure that you get the things that you enjoy, Fyn."

And then, like icing on a cake, Havu added, "You are part of the forest. He is the guardian of Gashea's forest. The master would give his best to help and spoil those within this place."

Fyn felt something warm bloom inside his chest. It intensified, and he felt a sudden warmth he never realized he was capable of feeling. Licking his lips, he looked down at the demon on his chest once more, as if seeing him in a new light. The villagers had been wrong, Fyn knew. They were wrong about Kavan. They were wrong about everything.

The demon that was currently snuggling him was not capable of any bad things.

"How could we help him, Havu?"

"Just outside the forest," Havu started, surprising Fyn. "There is a herb. It is by the river's mouth."

The mere mention of the place made Fyn freeze. If the herb was by the river's mouth, then it meant that it was near his hut. Near his home. Outside the forest. Outside. With a shaky breath, Fyn asks, "Would the forest even allow me to leave so that I could get it?"

Havu was silent.

Then, "I told them I would go, but they understood I cannot leave the forest. It is not safe for me. I told them that if they want something to guard the forest well enough like Kavan, they would trust you and allow you to leave so that you could get the herb. You are the only chance we have of Kavan being alright once more."

Surprise flickers on Fyn's face.

His palms grew cold.

"I could leave?"

Havu was silent, and when it spoke, its voice was strong. Almost different from how the serpent usually spoke. "As long as you promise to return, Fyn. The forest is permitting you to do so."

"Really?"

"Just remember, Fyn," Havu stated, "We need that herb. And if Kavan doesn't have it..."

The serpent didn't finish, but Fyn could tell just what he wanted to say.