Hunting Camp (Fog X)

As promised, Ry had hot stew and tea waiting. The home warmer than usual for the cooking. They ate in silence and then Ry finally said something as he was cleaning the plates.

“So, did you want to speak?”

Yust, as usual, had a plethora of thoughts in his head but couldn’t figure out how to make them go out of his mouth.

“Yes. I don’t want to do this”

Ry nodded his head but didn’t respond.

“I don’t want to kill. I don’t want to be killed. I don’t want to watch Bran kill or be killed. I don’t want to leave here.” He gestured to the home.

Ry again uncharacteristically said nothing, but instead scooted closer and hugged him. Yust began sobbing.

“You sure do hold a lot, for a long time, inside that head. Doesn’t it hurt bouncing around in there banging the insides of your skull?”

Yust nodded as he continued to whimper.

“What do you want to do?” Ry finally asked.

Yust wiped his face and took a breath.

“I want to just move here. I want to just be me. But what I want and what I must can’t be in the same place”

“As often is true and they say too often” Ry held him closer.

“I will do what I must and then maybe I will be able to do what I want”