He was just arriving into Athos when he saw him. The omega was standing guard by the gates and he knew he wouldn't be recognized because Silas had never seen his face but he must have heardĀ ofĀ him. The packmasters had met with him, assigned him a job, a pack, and a cabin to share wirh other alphas.
He had returned to the gates then, to meet with Silas. Bothering him during work ours didn't seem like the wisest thing to do but he couldn't wait. He wanted to know how this town was, if he needed another escape, or if all was well. He didn't ask anyone about the guard, he would get the information from the horses mouth.
"Silas." His way of greeting was still too formal so he tried relaxing a bit into it. "I'm Armand Orion. I helped Taj and your other kids get you out of Egrain and, yes, they're fine. I took the fall for it." He let the info sink into the other's mind before speaking further. "Are you okay here? Do they treat you right?" He got the most important question out first, wanting to know how should he proceed.
He was wearing a loose shirt, his mating mark visible but he had arrived alone. Orion felt awkward, vivid and horrible visions of what they had done to Silas still at the back of his head. "I...I'm sorry I didn't get you out sooner. I didn't know."
the whispers were always fast when new arrivals made their way into athos - this time he could hear them clearly,Ā someone from egrain.Ā like silas hadnāt seen enough of those in athos yet.Ā every new person from the city bore a risk.Ā he didnāt get out of the house, but there had been festivitiesĀ &Ā other celebrations or meetings at the house quite oftenĀ &Ā heād only missed few of them. if word got back to egrain about his whereabouts.. he wouldnāt be safe anymore.
but he couldnāt dwell on that while at work, heĀ didĀ take his position as a guard seriously, even if he wantedĀ someĀ of athos inhabitants dead rather than aliveĀ &Ā breathing down his neck. todayās shift was calm though, so he was stood with his spear on his back by the gate, just .. watching the outside when someone approached him.
someone who knew his name.Ā he spun around almost instantly, reaching behind him to wrap a hand loosely around the shaft of his spear - ready to strike should he feel the need to.Ā athos was supposedly safe,Ā but who could tell, really? he was about to ask how he knew, but the explanation followed swiftlyĀ &Ā while his shoulders lostĀ someĀ of the tension drawing them upwards, he was still watching, waiting.
orion.Ā of course he knew orion. his pups rambled about the alpha who trained them every single minute of every single day. theyād worshipped the manĀ &Ā promised he could be trusted. silas would have to see for himself, but ā¦ hearing his kids were okay.. did calm him. hand returning to rest against his side, he eyed the other closely. āwhy? what was in it for you?ā nobody went out of their way toĀ helpĀ someone they didnāt know.Ā so why?Ā without the assistance of a high ranked knight, silas would most likelyĀ stillĀ be in egrain, but it still didnāt make sense to him.
he was grateful,Ā even if he sucked at showing it. or expressing it. āit was none of your business. you couldnāt know.āĀ shouldnāt know. silas hadnāt wantedĀ moreĀ people to know the horrors he saw every day. heād felt guilty enough putting his pups through it, but strangers?Ā no. āitās .. good here. itās safe, i guess. for now.ā deep breath, feet shuffled, he was struggling to find the words he wanted. āthank you.ā
