It was late, but Somna’a took his time walking through the quiet streets of Gridania. The moon didn’t show itself and he still had to get used to all those… trees and wood and vegetation. He still missed the sand in the air. The open landscape of Gyr Abania stretching for malms and malms towards the horizon. In the Shroud he sometimes felt like living in a cage. A cage of trees because no matter where you looked, not far away from you there always was at least one blocking your view, casting big shadows, whispering in the winds. More than one time he had felt strangely observed and Mr. Cazian, Aveen's father, had said that this might be the Elementals. But as long as Somna’a still had all his limbs he appearently was welcome in the Shroud. Mr. Cazian had been joking of course, that funny Keeper, but what if it was true? Could the Elementals really decide who is allowed to live here and who is not? Had Thera been welcome here? If she had even arrived here? A thought Somna’a had almost daily now. During his travels from The Peaks to Gridania together with Aveen, he had already lost hope more times than he liked to admit even before the search for his sister had even started. He thought it a mistake and useless to leave his home. When they had a stop in Rhalgr’s Reach he even wanted to run back. Like a coward. Like a hypocrite. He truly wanted to stay with Aveen. And he truly had such problems with changes. Somna’a had felt like a fool for not knowing what he wanted and even more for dragging Aveen into it all. It had ended in their first little argument back there in Rhalgr’s Reach and it would propably not be their last, although Somna’a really tried to fit in and be hopeful. And to get used to having a totally different routine now in his life than before. He had to stay late at work today because being the freshly baked apprentice it was often his part to finish working on an important order in the leatherworker guild. He had exchanged his swords for tools now and couldn’t thank Aveen and his family enough for supporting him. Leatherworking was the only thing Somna’a knew he could be good at, because he had helped his father with this craft when he was young. His fathers tools were the only things he had left from his old life and being able to use them now made him happy … and a little melancholic.

Another change he had to get used to was that instead of sleeping in a tent in a military camp, he now owned a key to an apartement he was sharing with Aveen since a couple of days. A real apartment. With a door to close and their own bathroom, bedroom, a kitchen, even a cozy fireplace. N’ery, Aveen’s Mom, has very good connections in Gridania and its surrounding residential areas. Finding a nice and affordable place to stay for them took her just some days. It wasn’t hard to see where Aveen’s selflessness and kindness came from.

Walking up the stairs in the hallway of the old house now, all the way to the the floor where their apartment was, he still felt a little like an intruder. He had just never lived in a big apartment building before. He guessed that Aveen was already asleep regarding the late hour, so Somna’a unlocked the entrance door as quietly as he could. The fire in their fireplace was still burning and was currently the only cozy lightsource in the open entrance- and living area. In the small kitchen corner still lingered the scent of the dinner Aveen must have prepared and sadly eaten alone. The Keeper took off his shoes and jacked that still had some sawdust on it before walking towards the living room. They had a floor sofa because Aveen loves these. He had said that he misses hingan furniture and lifestyle quite much so they agreed to at least buy a floor sofa. It wasn’t easy to find one in Gridania but they were lucky. Somna’a had expected Aveen already in bed. But no… his small figure lay peacefully on the sofa, an open book and his glasses in front of him. He was lying on the belly, the head rested on one arm, a blanked up his waist. He must have fallen asleep over his current reading. Somna’a just hoped he wasn’t worrying too much over Somna’a being late. Aveen knew that the Keeper had troubles fitting in. That he deep down felt like he had no right to be here. Aveen never openly spoke about how sad Somna’a’s troubles maybe made him, at least not to Somna’a himself, but the way he took care of the former resistance fighter showed how important Somna’a’s happiness was to the healer. It was of course the same the other way round. Somna’a cared deeply for the bluehaired Miqo’te and couldn’t put in words how thankful he was for the time they were allowed to share so far. He loved Aveen, even if he had not told him that yet. It was another thing that made Somna’a stupidly nervous. As he now silently walked around the very low backrest of the floor sofa and saw the little Miqo’te sleeping there, his beautiful face warmly lit by the fire, Somna’a felt a lump of happiness form in his throat. His chest even made a sudden move under a swallowed breath and he slowly pushed book and glasses away and sat down beside Aveen. He knew it was a bit selfish to not let him sleep but he bent to the side, softly reached for the younger Miqo’te and pulled him gently up and towards him, so that Aveen’s hip rested on one of Somna’a’s thighs and he could embrace him with their fronts to each other, while Aveen’s head found a place on Somna’a’s shoulder. Of course the healer woke through the movement but Somna’a didn’t know when that deep purr sound in his own chest had started that must have told Aveen immediatly who the person was that had pulled him onto their lap. Still a bit sleepy he pressed his face gently on Somna’a’s neck side and put one arm around the Keepers other shoulder.

“Where have you been?” Aveen asked softly. His voice without any accusation and with even more sweet relief. It was one of the many things that Somna’a admired so much. Nearly every sentence that Aveen spoke to him carried the most positive thing possible. A ‘What are doing there?’ sounded like a ‘Can I help you?’ A ‘Where have you been?’ sounded like a ‘I missed you so.’

“Sorry, I had to work late this time. Important order.” Somna’a replied low and gave the younger man a kiss on the forehead before hiding half of his face in Aveen’s soft hair, breathing in its well known scent. Somna’a’s arms wrapped firmly around Aveen’s body who gladly snuggled close.

“But I am home now. I am home.”