"Raahn, listen to me."

I sat beside the trembling black figure, a deep-set worry preventing any of my anger from further releasing itself into the open.

Raahn hesitated, but eventually perked an ear; a gesture I was thankful for, since it means that he's willing to listen.
"Raahn, I... I'm sorry, okay? I'm... Not good at this, at all, and you know that," I rubbed the back of my feathered neck with a hand and continued, "But you must understand my situation. We both could've been killed, mercilessly, too, and there's nothing we could've done. The Gods, they know these things. They tell the Priests, which is why they suspected you so quickly..." I pursed my lips in further thought. "The Gods-"

"The Gods, The Gods. THE. GODS," Raahn yelled, baring a set of black, serated teeth before standing up and looking down at me.
I shrunk on instinct.
Oh no... Did I say The Gods that much?

"That's all you talk about, now! "The Gods know this, The Gods will do that, They'll say when, yada yada yada"! It gets tiring, okay? I get it, you believe in them, but I don't, and you make it seem like I should always depend on these powerful dragons of religious tyranny!"

"Raahn-"

"Im sick of it! That's why I stole the robe! Maybe, because you say it's protected by the Gods, that if it's stolen so easily you'll finally agree with me that these Gods aren't on our side!" He flared his wings, nearly knocking off several potted plants that hung peacefully from wooden rails lining the outer ceiling.
My ears flattened.

"Raahn! Knock it off!" I gave a sudden lurch forward and took one of the thief's hands in my own, planting it firmly on his mouth to cover any more nauseating words from escaping.
I can't let this escalate... Or they'll find out.
"They can hear us, you know that... If you keep talking, we'll get in trouble," I warned with a growl.

He's right, though... This needs to be addressed... But first, calm the situation.

Softening my tone, I leaned forward and whispered, "Take a few deep breaths with me, okay?"

Momets turned to second turned to minutes, and I was beginning to think that he'll decline the offer.
But, Raahn gave a swift, distracted nod, and with a sense of purpose now settling in my mind, I dramatically inflated my chest so he knows to follow, then exhaled after five seconds, counting in my head in the same way I knew Raahn was doing.

We did this for several moments, embers flickering in my chest as I watched Raahn's sharp face melt like soft clay against my hand after each breath, which began drifting to cup his jaw so he doesn't fall forward and cause a flame where the embers stood. I smiled, unbeknownst to myself, at how sweet he looked after only moments before of anger.

"Are you okay?" I finally asked after a second of silent calm.

Raahn nodded.

Relief flooding my eyes, I tilted his dark head down so I can rest my forehead against his own, our breaths rhythmical to one another's, like the most calming songs during a deadly storm.
The type that flutter my heart more than I wish to admit.

"I'm sorry," I said, genuinely, repeating this statement over and over as two large black wings wrapped themselves around my warm body, seeking heated feathers for comfort against it's cold scales.

Raahn layed his head atop mine, his eyes closed and his breathing never faltering.
"Do you believe me, now..?" He murmured, a voice so quiet and gentle I almost could describe it as a beautiful summer breeze during the coldest of winters.
No... I don't. But I can't tell him that. If I do, this moment will dissapear.

"Maybe," was my single, quaint response, silencing anymore words from appearing in the room once I closed my own eyes and took long breaths in and out, savoring the scent of icy-vibrations coming off of Raahn's scales. I was like a freezing burn; my chest bursted in heat despite the nipping cold of the thief's scales.
If only this moment could last forever...

"Hilno, I need to tell you..." Raahn's voice broke the peaceful silence of the room. Not that I'm complaining...

"Hm?" I hummed, curiosity spiking awake my adrenaline. Craning my head to peer at his eyes of golden pools, I awaited his comment with impatience.

Raahn gulped, then said, "Hilno do you know why I stole those robes?"

I blinked.

What?

"Yeah, you said it was to prove your point that I shouldn't push my religion onto you because I said the robes were protected by the Gods?"

Raahn smirked, a sight I wish didn't spark a throb in my chest, and said, "Well- Yeah that's... That's one of them. But Hilno you're missing the bigger picture. Think about it. For one second."

I stared at my talons, straining every node in my brain to work on this new task. Reason... Reasoning... There's more to this? What is it? Something personal to him? No... No he would've told me if that was the case. He always tells me. Religion... Theif... Convincing...

A gasp was the only thing I could do, the weight of the world now formly placing itself atop my weak shoulders.

Raahn seemed to understand why, as he held me closer and asked, "What was my reason?"

With a voice small, afraid, and hesitant, I whispered along his scales like butterflies landing on flowers,
"You wanted to show us that the Gods aren't on our side."

"Mmhm, what else?" Raahn's voice was low, deadly, yet had the dripping sensation of honey rolling down my spine. I couldn't get enough. I shuddered at the touch of his tone on my neck. What else... I almost forgot.

"You want to form a rebellion in Kalcul territory, and destroy their religious rule from the inside out...

This was the perfect start."