Lumen scrunched his nose. Streams of light broke through the treetops, illuminating the forest floor. He sat up, realizing it was well into the morning. Sleeping this late had been a luxury compared to the last few days. Lumen's eyes squinted. He brushed his hair away from his face, rubbing his eyes, as he sat up.

Lumen noticed something was very obviously missing. Umbra

Lumen shuffled into a sitting position. He scanned the surrounding forest. It was bright. Yellow streams of light washed over the serene forest around him. Lumen looked around, trying to see if he had failed to notice something, but Umbra was simply not here. He quickly hurried to his feet. He noticed Umbras cloak on the earthen ground. Lumen felt the slow creep of panic in his stomach. Has something happened?

There was no blood. He must be fine, right? Lumen shook his hands, as if trying to shake off the feeling of anxiety. He took a deep breath. There was no way something could have happened and he didn't notice. Lumen heard nothing during his slumber. Has the man abandoned Lumen? But why leave his cloak.?

Lumen exhaled, slowly, pushing those thoughts from his mind. He didn't want to consider himself lost, alone, and abandoned in unfamiliar territory. Lumen grabbed his back, leaving his wrinkled cloak on the ground behind him. He timidily made his way through the thick wall of trees and bushes. He could see nothing indicating where Umbra had gone, his panic creeping itself back into his gut. He began to quicken his pace, his eyes scanning the forest, looking for any detail. His heart began to thump in anticipation, his hurried footsteps crunching loudly beneath him, he heard the distant splash of water.

Lumen decided to follow it, he'd follow anything at this point. His mind started to race. He couldn't find Umbra. He was lost. He was alone, and he would surely not make it to Astradel. Lumen remembered what the mercenary had said to him, about the forest being well protected from harm. He could only hope that was true.

Lumen refocused himself, repeating his thoughts like affirmations.

"Theres no reason for him to have left me here. It wouldn't make sense"

He mumbled to himself. His feet quickened has he neared the sound of water, he would check the source, then head back to their camp. Maybe Umbra had returned there. Lumen pushed aside weeping branches and thick foliage. He could see the sun glinting off the lake

And some thing else..?

Lumen pushed the last of the branches from his face. His verdant eyes went wide at the unexpected sight. He stopped. Lost for words at the man before him.

It was Umbra

The sun caught thin streams, and droplets of water across his back, scintillating brightly as they trailed between the curved muscles of his form, dipping between his shoulder blades. His black hair clung to his skin; brilliant beads of water dripping from the white ends. The furred ears on his head were dotted with water. One twitched, sending the water droplets flying. Something he hadn't noticed before were two small golden hoops imbedded in one of his ears; they must be piercings, Lumen thought. They caught the sun, and shone brightly against the black of his ears. Lumen could see the rise and fall of his shoulders, and he couldn't take his eyes off him for some reason. But why? Lumen couldn't even begin to answer his own question. He felt the tingle of blood in his cheeks as his eyes danced across Umbra's form, shamelessly.

His skin was tanned, and the tinge of yellow from the sun only illuminated that. There were large stretches of uneven skin across his back. Surely they were deep scars carved into him from his battles. His shoulders seemed much more broad now that Lumen could see him. Compared to Lumen he was much larger and his body well toned, he wasn't sure if it was natural for Feli'na to look this way or if he was battle-worn, but either way, Lumen knew his frame was significantly smaller than Umbra's. He had always been lithe, and he knew that, but still the difference surprised him. Lumen noticed deep black spirals painted against the man's skin, they swirled across his shoulders, coming to a pointed stop near his shoulder blades, they were stark against his skin, the pattern was unknown to Lumen. But it looked as though they originated on his chest as they snaked over the tops of his shoulders. Lumen figured they must be some type of tattoo. He vaguely remembered seeing some sort of black lines once before when he had seen Umbra prior. Lumen's eyes drifted across his dampened body. Umbra still had his pants on, but lacked any other clothing. He had clearly been in the water, though. Something Lumen never had the chance to see was on Umbra's lower back; A thick, furred black tail sway gently, as if to knock off the remaining water. It reminded Lumen of a fox's tail. Lumen thought.. it was beautiful, or maybe he thought Umbra was beautiful. Either way, in this moment.. he wasn't sure. Lumen felt his breath catch in his throat as he watched, he wasn't sure if this was some form of attraction.. No, maybe admiration? Lumen couldn't put it into a coherent thought. He didn't particularly care for people in that way, nor did he think he was interested in men. His heart thrashing in his chest as he attempted to regain control over his thoughts, he had never reacted in this way before and it unsettled him to his core.

Umbra was fierce, he was quiet, he was dangerous. Lumen knew nothing of him; he was a complete mystery. Lumen thought these things must be what were fueling his disordered mind. Perhaps it was a fascination with the unknown? He questioned himself, frustrated.

Heat pricked his cheeks and he squeezed his eyes shut. Thinking himself a fool, he convinced himself it was just because he hadn't seen many people with Umbra's physique. Maybe it was intimidation; his own body looked nothing like the one in front of him. Even so, his palms began to sweat as he clenched his fists. He thought maybe it was just his prior panic in being alone that he felt so nervous. Lumens head became more rushed, more panicked, he couldn't understand the sudden flustered thoughts that scrambled his mind. He couldn't understand why he was still looking at the scarred, sinewy man.

Suddenly Umbra's head turned enough to meet Lumen's gaze, he froze, unsure if he was supposed to see him like this, he seemed in a way, more vulnerable. Umbra spoke, the depth of his voice, catching Lumen off guard.

"Caught breakfast"

Caught..? Lumens eyes shifted down to see Umbra holding three fish by their tails. Had he caught those himself? Lumen stepped out from the mouth of the trees, towards the bright, reflective pool of water in front of him.

"Oh.. I woke and you were gone, so I went looking. I wasn't sure what to make of it.."

Umbra turned to face Lumen, fish dangling in his hands. Lumen couldn't take his eyes off the water that trailed across the taught muscles under his skin. Lumens eyes caught the deep black lines across Umbra's chest; they looked tribal in nature. They spiraled across his collarbone, ending just above his ribs. Lumen thought they must have hurt when they were done. He wondered what the meaning of such eye-catching tattoos would be. Lumen realized he had been staring at the ink on Umbra's skin. His eyes shifted to the beads of liquid dripping from Umbra's fingertips; he wasn't sure where to look anymore. No matter where Lumen's eyes landed, it was somewhere on Umbra. His hair hung wet and heavy beside his face. Lumens eyes followed the strands until they faded to white. He hadn't realized he was mesmerized until Umbra spoke, his heart nearly jumping from his chest when he was pulled from his thoughts again.

"What for?" Lumen lifted his gaze when Umbra spoke. He hadn't fully processed the question.

"What..?" The mercenary looked almost perplexed when Lumen stumbled over his words. 

Lumens eyes lifted to Umbra's chest, perhaps the largest scar on his body spread across his chest. Lumen could only wonder how he got this particular one, he thought it must have been painful. Lumen assumed Umbra may have noticed his staring, but if he did he ignored it and began to walk forwards, Lumen swallowed, his heart had begun to quicken, he wasn't sure when or why it had started. Umbra walked past Lumen. He could smell spice when he did.

"No need to look for me, Stay where it's safe"

Lumen turned as he watched Umbra leave the waters; Umbra was ultimately right. He shouldn't leave camp. But he needed to be sure he wasn't abandoned or that Umbra wasn't hurt. He thought for a second why he would consider that a possibility, Umbra was an extremely capable fighter in Lumen's eyes, even if he were hurt Lumen wondered what he could even do.

Lumen was at a slight loss for words, he tried to collect himself as Umbra placed the fish on a nearby rock, he returned his shirt to his damp skin; Lumen realized he had just been standing in silence, he wanted to clarify why he had even left, not wanting to sit in silence, only filled by the soft sound of birds within their nests, singing.

"Well I wasn't sure if you had left me for good or not.. It's hard being so far from home with a stranger"

Lumen's eyes fell to the forest floor, drifting to the brightly colored lake beside him. He wasn't sure how else to word his feelings, or even what his feelings were exactly. He never really was sure how to word himself, but he figured it better than saying nothing. 

Umbra continued getting himself dressed, picking up his sheathed blade, seemingly unbothered by Lumen's actions. At least, Lumen had hoped that was the case. 

"We have an agreement. I will fulfill it"

With that, Umbra's body began to disappear within the forest. Lumen quickly followed. He wondered if something as simple as an agreement really held that much weight, maybe being a mercenary meant you'd have to rely on your clients as they relied on you. Lumen thought it strange, but somehow comforting knowing such an agreement meant mutual benefits.

They returned to where they slept the prior night, starting another fire. Umbra skewered the fish. He cleaned the outside of them and stuck the wooden spikes close to the fire. Lumen watched as the fish browned. They smelled amazing. Lumens eyes met Umbra's. He found himself feeling embarrassed for staring earlier, his gaze returning to the fish in front of him. Lumen thought to break the silence.

"Thanks for getting breakfast.. I've never caught a fish. especially by hand"

He smiled at his own words. He wasn't much of a hunter, mostly eating fruits and vegetables. He didn't have to hunt for such things. But it made sense someone from a Beast tribe would have such knowledge. He was never raised to hunt, but Umbra likely was.

Umbra gestured towards the now slightly wrinkled, browned fish.

"It's done, take what you want."

"Oh!" Lumen sat up, and he pulled one of the props from the ground. He would be satisfied with just one for the time being. He carefully picked apart the fish, avoiding the thin, hair-like bones inside. Umbra sat in silence for awhile. Lumen felt awkward being the only one eating. He stopped for a moment as he nibbled.

"Are you.. Having any? I'm fine with just one.." Lumen hesitated at his words, unsure if Umbra had planned to eat. 

Without a word, Umbra reached for a fish. Lumen hadn't seen him eat, so it was almost strange. Lumen spotted a razor-sharp canine as Umbra opened his mouth to bite down on his food. He averted his gaze, questioning his own actions. He scolded himself for staring so much today, there was no reason for it. He felt almost frustrated as he pecked away at his food, but he couldn't deny there was fascination to be had about Umbra. He wondered if all mercenaries were so quiet. Were they all so intimidating? Lumen wondered if he would feel the same, bone-deep gaze from others. Something he'd never felt until now, and even after realizing Umbra likely wouldn't hurt him, he was afraid. Deep down, he still contained fear and uncertainty over the Beast-man.

Some time passed as they finished eating; Umbra stood, adjusting his weapons and his cloak back onto his body. Lumen couldn't imagine traveling with so many weapons. He thought it must be a hassle, or at least heavy.

"We're leaving" Lumen stood up quickly. He felt too warm for his cloak today, so he bundled it up and carried it under his arm and followed behind Umbra, adjusting his bag on his shoulder.