He liked it, in the dark, where he could listen to the sounds of her breathing over the roar of the rain outside. It rained near every day here, a constant deluge that never stopped and only occasionally came with thunder. She was almost certainly asleep now, though he'd be awake many more hours, like he was every night that it rained.

He'd gotten used to spending days on end in a saddle, to sleeping outside, to being cold and achy. But he'd never get used to the rain, not even on the nights where he had a roof over his head and a full stomach. Not even with the sound of her breathing to drown it out.

His wings furled uncomfortably behind him, feathers matted in the sticky heat. The shadows in the room seemed to jump out at him through the glare of the oil lamps in the street below. This was the biggest settlement they'd come through, since they'd started traveling. Rannok was initially glad for the buildings and the people, and the restlessness had taken longer than usual. They'd be on the move soon, same as they always were.

He wasn't sure they'd ever find a safe place. It had taken him long enough to admit he wanted a traveling companion, and longer still for him to realize her questions didn't bother him anymore. Not that there were that many questions left to ask. Instead they rode each day in silence, quiet as the wind through the tall grass, and nearly as swift.

An unwelcome flash of light echoed around the room. Rannok flinched and covered his ears, waiting for the thunder to follow. It was quiet, and far away. He sank his shoulders and relaxed, careful not to wake his traveling companion, and shut his eyes. It was times like this he missed the crow. He missed having someone to talk to.

Morning came sooner than he liked. The rain stopped just as the first rays of sun broke through the window and spilled onto the bed. Sasha stirred. She blinked at him, hazel eyes still clouded with sleep.

"Did you sleep," she asked. He shook his head, 'no', and rubbed his eyes. They itched, like someone had thrown sand into them.

Her sigh came small and through her nose. She placed her hand over his. "Why do you do that?

Rannok shrugged his shoulders, his wings moving in tandem with it. He didn't know. It was torture, really, lying awake in the dark for hours with no one to talk to. And it left him tired the next day.

"You should have woken me up," she said.

"Then we both wouldn't have slept." He sat up and rubbed his eyes again, desperate to feel like he had rested.

"You look exhausted."

Rannok shook his head. "We need to get moving soon."

"We have enough money to pay for another night." Worry etched her face like rain etched lines onto a road. They were running out of ingots, there was no hiding it from either of them. Pretty soon, they'd have no choice but to sleep outside, and go hungry when they couldn't find game.

This place was kinder to marked ones than Agatine had been, but it was still far from what he'd call kind. The stares he got now were mainly of curiosity, rather than malice, but curiosity didn't win work. It mostly won children pulling at feathers and old men who told him he'd probably spook the horses when he offered to muck stalls.

"Worry about it later," she said. Rannok ran a hand through his hair. Her hand felt cool on his back. He hadn't questioned contact, not since they'd curled up together the first night they'd found shelter, and there had been a storm. He'd convinced himself then that he would be okay. Now he wasn't so sure. The days just got longer the longer they traveled. Money got tighter, and the horses grew thinner and got wear-marks where their bridles sat.

"I'm sorry. I'm trying," he muttered under his breath. She moved a little closer to him, until her head rested on his shoulder. She grasped his hand. He let his fingers find hers and rubbed the back of her palm.

"I was afraid when I left home. I'm still afraid now," she said. 

Rannok sank back down into the pile of quilts, his weary limbs embracing them like a starving man embraces food. She reached for his face and brushed her fingers across his cheek. He flinched, not sure whether or not he wanted her to stay.

"It's okay that you're afraid. Being afraid doesn't make you weak, Rannok."

He fixed her with a quizzical stare, though she did nothing but stare back at him. She shrugged her shoulders and sat up, though he did not move. She was right. There would be plenty of time to worry later, about money and food and tired horses. That didn't stop him from worrying now. Precious little could.

"You should sleep," she said.

Rannok shut his eyes again, waiting for sleep that would not come. He wanted her to stay. He sighed when she released his hand and he heard the creaking open of the door.

She'd be back.