[andalusia] gold lion. [tag; circenn]

Circenn nodded even as she shook her head. He knew not everyone was a big major league quidditch team, sometimes favoring smaller pick up games and such. It's not something he could ever see himself getting out of though. Quidditch was in his blood. It basically was his blood. He quirked a brow at her last comment and smiled, "Did you ever play while you were in school?" he asked her as she mentioned it. He wasn't sure, but as he looked her over, he could guess that she might be a pretty good seeker with her slight build and quick eyes.

He smiled hesitantly as she petted Poco and he understood that to be an acceptance of his offer. He didn't want to push her into anything, but if he was being honest, which he always endeavored to do, he was pleased with the idea of her staying here tonight. For her safety, of course. Yeah, that was the only reason..

"Glad you like it," he said as he moved around some of the chicken in his tin foil, his dark eyes looking over at her from across the fire. He watched as she fed a few pieces to Poco and that warmed him on the inside more than any fire could. That she had thought of his dog made him like her that much more. He found himself forcing his eyes on the fire and flames so he didn't keep staring at her, but at her compliment, he grinned. "Really? This?" he said with a notion down toward his tin foil pack of sizzling chicken. "Then I'll have to make you a real meal sometime. You'll love it," he told her. And then paused. He didn't mean to presume that she would have dinner with him again. Or that he would have a chance to cook her a real dinner at his house at some point. Even though he couldn't deny that he wouldn't be complaining if that opportunity did present itself. Quite the opposite of complaining actually.

The quiet between them settled for a moment and Circenn found himself getting lost in the embers of the fire as he took a few more bites of his dinner. He was surprised when she apologized, his eyebrows lowering over his eyes as she explained, but Circenn was shaking his head even before she finished. "No need to apologize," he told her, his quiet voice carrying over to her even as the fire crackled. He was surprised she was willing to be this open with him, but appreciated it all the same. Her honesty was refreshing.

"To be honest, I feel like my head is a mess too a lot of the time," he told her after a minute, his confession coming from him in a halting way. He wasn't exactly used to sharing. He had gotten burned too many times before from sharing too much with people he shouldn't have. "I guess that's why I come out here," he said, taking a look around the forest. "Get away from it all. Clear my head. Is that why you come out here too?" he asked her.

"Oh no," Maisie said with a nervous laugh. "I didn't even try out," she was quick to tell him. It was part fear but mostly knowing that she wouldn't be good enough so she didn't even sign up. Then there was the added pressure of the entire school watching you, judging you, booing you. Also the fear of falling. "I've never been great with heights," she added, hoping to distract him. She thought he might think her a quitter for not bothering to even try so a believable lie might make him not think any less of her. She just hoped he'd forgotten that her camp was set up at the edge of the cliff and she actually liked heights.

The petite woman flushed a deep, deep red and offered a self-conscious smile. His laugh sounded wonderful, like honey and melted chocolate, all rolled into one. She looked at him for a moment, wondering if she should be a little bit more open. Maisie did that a lot, weighing up the pros and cons before she opened her mouth.

"Yeah," she acquiesced without hesitation, deciding to be uncharacteristically  brave because she one hundred percent didn’t think she'd see him ever again after tonight. She shrugged as she chewed on her chicken, thinking. "I've never been one for champagne tastes," she explained to Circenn. "I don't like expensive things and fancy dinners. I like beautiful things, sure, but not diamonds. What's more beautiful than a starry sky?" She asked as she tilted her head back to look up. The inky black sky looked like a dark blue blanket with holes punched in it, a swathe of sparkling gems hanging above their heads. She gave a gentle, almost wistful sigh. "You'd be surprised how few people like being outside," she told him with a wry smile. London was full of city boys; sharp suits, terribly posh accents and a distinct aversion to hard work.

Looking up sharply, she didn't comment. He'd cook her a proper dinner? She didn't say anything, relishing in the slip of the tongue. As much as she wanted to scream yes from the tree tops, she knew that if that was a genuine offer, she'd over think things and bail out at the last minute like she always did. Instead, she simply hid her smile behind the rim of her cup.

As Circenn spoke about his brain, a flicker of surprise crossed her face briefly. Him? Struggling? But he had everything. Money, girls, fame and presumably a gorgeous, normal family life. Then again, fame came at a price. Maisie was used to being scrutinised. She was routinely picked on and pulled apart by her family so goodness knew how horrible that must be to have all that come from total strangers.

She found herself nodding swiftly as she chewed on a carrot, Poco's heavy body keeping her pleasantly warm and snug. "It's more of an escape," she told Circenn without thinking, chewing her lip awkwardly. There was something about him that made her feel like she was able to open up. Whether it was his strong frame or his reassuring voice or a mixture of the two, she was unsure. "Things are --" she halted, her face creasing as though she was fighting an internal war with her feelings. "Things aren't great," she finally admitted, talking more to his dog than to him.

Her family hadn't really done anything terrible. It was just their callous indifference and emotional blackmail towards her was having a deep impact on her and how she functioned. Her mother made her well aware of just where she stood in her affections and she ranked below the family guinea pig.

Her detached mother, bullying brothers and absent father had made her loneliness manifest to the point where Maisie had just accepted that this was a normal way of life. She felt like being obedient was being a good girl. Then there was Johnny, her on again/off again "boyfriend". With a name like Johnny and his perpetual leather jacket, it should have rung alarm bells but it hadn't. He was a wannabe musician, playing clubs and bars and heading to the after parties that she was never invited to. Then he turned up infrequently, at four in the morning, drunk and wanting attention. So she gave it to him. Whenever she rolled over and asked if he wanted to stay for breakfast, she got the same answer. I don't do that, babe he'd say with his lazy drawl as he ran his fingers up her arm. Then he'd kiss her forehead, get dressed and lope down the stairs whistling and slamming the front door, leaving her tangled up in her sheets, wondering what the Hell was wrong with her and why she was so unlovable.

"It just feels a little freer," she told him eventually with a small smile as she managed to pull herself out of her thoughts. "There aren't any dickhead in the woods," she told Circenn with a genuine smile as she continued to eat. He most certainly was not Johnny or her mother or her boss or her neighbours or her landlord. "I just like hiking," she added gently. "I don't have anyone to please but myself and if I want to climb a tree, there isn't anyone tutting at me and telling me to get back down."

Circenn nodded as she named her fear of heights. It was unfortunate because he could picture her in his mind on a broom, her eyes on a snitch, bringing a win home for her team. Maybe it was just easy for him to picture anyone he met on the pitch since he was so familiar with it. Still, he guessed it was something he wouldn't ever see if she wasn't great with heights.

The quidditch player found himself nodding as she spoke about her lack of champagne tastes, smiling to himself. "I think we have that in common," he told her, every word she had said ringing a truth in him. "I like simple things too." He found his eyes trailing upwards, following her gaze, as he saw the stars winking at him through the tops of the trees silhouetted against the night sky. He chuckled as she smiled at him and nodded. "I'm actually not surprised. I know exactly what you mean," he said. "It's hard to find friends who want to spend their weekend sleeping in the great outdoors. Well, except Poco that is," he added with a smile.

Circenn's fork stilled as he quiet voice carried across the fire to him. Things aren't great. He frowned and glanced across at her, wondering, hoping she would go on. Why was he suddenly so interested that she share more with him? He wanted to know what obstacles she was going up against in her daily life. And maybe even how she could help. Circenn wondered if he was being too naive again, too quick to get involved in maybe things he shouldn't. But then again, there was something about her that called to him. He wasn't sure what that was. He listened carefully as she went on.

She was quiet for a bit and he felt both of them get lost in their thoughts. He ate a few more bites of his chicken, finishing up his dinner quickly leaving nothing behind, and tried not to frown as she mentioned 'dickheads'. There was apparently someone in her life that fit that category. He didn't know how he felt about that. "No dickheads and no paparazzi either," Circenn managed to joke with a tentative smile. "Have you ever hiked Skye?" he asked, speaking of the Scottish isle. "It's one of my favorite places to go. Amazing view."

As he was now finished with his dinner, he got together his utensils and cup and placed them near his wash bucket a few steps from the fire. He would take care of that in the morning like he usually did. The trash went in its own small bag that he would carry out with him tomorrow. And then his long legs brought him back to where Maisie was sitting with Poco. He was careful with his steps, keeping his eyes on her as he came closer. "I'm just going to check on him," he mentioned, making his intentions clear. He felt comfortable with her after their chat and he hoped the same for her, but he still remembered how she pulled away from him and he didn't want to frighten her.

He sank onto his knees in front of them and rested his hand over Poco's head, scratching behind his ears for a moment as the German Shepard licked at his hand. "You're a good boy," he murmured to his dog before he continued on to check the wounds he had suffered. The wounds weren't any worse when he had finished healing them earlier. They weren't completely healed and Circenn knew he would see his vet tomorrow to make sure he hadn't completely botched the field dressing, but he wasn't worried that Poco would make it through the night. He told Maisie as much. "I think everything looks okay. Not perfect, but it'll have to do until I can get him to a vet tomorrow."

At the mention of things in common, Maisie felt herself smile at him. It was such a simple phrase but she'd never had things in common with someone else before. As a child, she'd always liked different things than her peers; different music, art, clothes. There had never been a common thread but with him? That might just change. "More fool them, then," she added gently with another smile as she sipped at her cup of water as she stroked his dog gently at his mention.

Circenn's silence was comforting. No one had ever really taken the time to listen to here and up here, in the middle of nowhere on the edge of a Spanish cliff, it seemed like the perfect time for a confession. The look in his eyes was all the urging that she needed and she took a quick breath to steady herself. After all, what were the chances of them meeting up again after this? He'd slip back into his famous world and she'd disappear into the background.

"Boyfriend is a loose term," Maisie told Circenn with a brittle smile. She and Johnny weren't dating, despite her previously wanting nothing more to be his girlfriend. Maisie wanted to be the glamorous girlfriend of a musician. She wanted the parties, the gowns, the attention. But Johnny was less forthcoming. She saw him infrequently and she read more about him in the papers than she saw him. Photos of him spilling out of clubs, looking bedraggled, his arm wrapped around a waif of a girl that was half her size. It was crushing.

She sighed and shrugged, her slim fingers picking at a loose thread in her borrowed blanket. She wasn't even sure she liked him any more. Though still attracted to him, she didn't care so much about his thoughts and feelings. Six months ago, she would have done anything to please him but now, she was hoping he wouldn't call her. "He's a mistake and for some reason, I can't cut loose." Maisie knew why; she had the thought that no one else would want her. "And work's unfulfilling and my mother keeps firing men at me," she pulled a face. Had her mother fired Circenn at her, well, she might have stopped running away.

In spite of herself, she laughed. "That must be tough," the petite brunette added softly, genuinely sounding a bit sad. Everyone deserved privacy and it was unfair, just because he played sports, that he should be deprived of that. Maisie couldn't fathom that and all the pressure and the fame. She and him had similar problems on vastly different ends of the spectrum. She shook her head at his comment about hiking. "No," she said, sounding regretful. "I've never been to Scotland before." But it sounded beautiful to her.

Maisie watched him clear up the mess and she smiled. It was rare to find someone who cared about the outdoors as much as she did and as she sat there, she felt her resolve to leave in the morning wane and wane. Offering her last bit of chicken to Poco, she looked up and blushed. She felt both silly and embarrassed that he felt the need to explain everything he was about to do. It wasn't his fault that she was so skittish.

She nodded. Unlike the first time Circenn had approached her, she stayed still, shifting only to allow him better access to his dog. "He's the best," she added, her own fingers gently stroking a small patch of fur on his back. She swallowed sadly. This brave dog had really been the one to save her and he'd taken quite a pounding. He didn't understand just how much she owed him and he never would. She gave a sigh of relief, the stress visibly melting off her shoulders. "Good," she added. Then she pitched forward and buried her face in Poco's neck, squeezing her eyes shut tightly as she gave him a gentle hug. This had been a rollercoaster of a night and now the shock had worn off, the realisation that she'd nearly died hit her with full force.

"Sorry," she said weakly as she straightened herself up and wiped her nose on the sleeve of her flannel shirt, feeling silly and weak as a single tear snaked down her cheek, marring her porcelain skin. "I just --" she stopped suddenly, her lower lip wobbling against her will. "Bloody wolves!" She gasped with wide eyes, suddenly laughing but stopping almost instantly. "I feel a bit sick."

Circenn found himself stilling, just blinking at her, as she smiled at him, his mind going momentarily blank. Who could have guessed that he would've found a kindred soul out here in the woods this weekend? He chuckled lowly, the sound rumbling around his chest, as he smiled and nodded at her. "Very true," he murmured, echoing her thought, his gaze on her delicate fingers as they stroked Poco's back.

The ingenuine smile she gave him as she spoke of her 'boyfriend' made him look her over, wondering. Was it a loose term because she wasn't into commitment? Was she not really that into him? The quidditch player had this urge to know more about her, get to know her, but he also didn't want to push. It seemed that he didn't have to wonder and wait too long though as her quiet but musical voice floated to him over the fire. Her shrug maybe told him more than anything else, the way her finger picked at the blanket, her tone. I can't cut loose. Circenn knew that feeling all too well, being caught up in someone else who wasn't as interested in you as you were in them. He felt his stomach twist uncomfortably as memories resurfaced and he swallowed as he refocused on her words.

He wasn't quite sure what to say about the 'boyfriend' issue. 'You deserve more?' But that would've been borderline inappropriate considering they had just met twenty minutes ago. That didn't change what he thought, only that he kept his lips closed around that one. Instead he went with something a little safer. "Where do you work?" he asked her.

Circenn lifted one shoulder and shook his head. "I'm not really complaining," he told her, feeling compelled to let her know that he wasn't completely oblivious to his luck and fortune of doing something he loved for a living. He told her as much. "I get to play a game I love for a living." It did have it downsides, but in the grand scheme of things, he was sure he was better off than many and he tried to keep that in mind when frustration about his lack of privacy set in. "Really?" he asked, surprise showing on his face at her admission to never having been to Scotland before. "You should go sometime. I have a cabin in the Cairngorns. It's a beautiful area. Great hiking. Good people."

He sat back on his heels as Maisie bent over and snuggled his dog, a warm feeling in his chest. He couldn't be jealous that his dog was getting so much of her affection, well mostly, but it did make him smile adn appreciate her presence all the more. "I think you're quickly becoming his favorite," Circenn joked as Poco licked at her hand, his tail wagging lightly.

But as she sat up, he frowned at her change in voice and expression. "Hey," he said gently as he saw her eyes glassy with tears, reaching out a hand to her shoulder. "Hey, it's alright. You're okay now, we're okay," he told her, his eyes worrying over her. He felt a fierce need to protect her and even though he had brought her here with the protection of the wards, it didn't feel like enough. When she started and stopped laughing suddenly, he frowned. Then her admission had him moving. He leaned all the way back, stretching out a long arm to snag an empty pot he typically used to wash dirty dishes in. It was clean for now and he came around to her side as he set the pot in front of her. "Here, use this," he said, just in case she felt the need to throw up.

He moved around to sit beside her instead of in front and placed a hand gently on her back, rubbing softly in a smooth motion. He silently berated himself. He should have known she might still go into shock and the food he had just given her might not have helped. "I'm sorry," he heard himself apologizing - for what he wasn't sure. Maybe all of it. "It'll pass," he told her, hoping to give her some modicum of comfort. "The wolves can't get us now. We'll be okay."

"Low level Ministry position," Maisie replied, thankful that he hadn't pressed her about the boyfriend issue. Johnny wasn't really her boyfriend. He wasn't committed to her in the slightest. The job, she felt, reflected who she was. She was just floating by and of no importance. Though she didn't know or feel like it, her job did not determine her worth. She'd fallen into it, both coerced by her mother and her own self doubt and she'd just gotten used to it. Once upon a time, she might have liked to be a florist or a vet. "I'm a secretary to a man I don't like, doing a job that has no merit or room for personal growth and to make matters worse, the pay is awful."

The petite brunette offered him another smile. She found herself almost desperate to hear more about Circenn and his life. They were vastly different and it was clear on how they'd handle fame. Maisie would fall apart. She was always in the shadows and being in the light just didn't sit comfortably with her. When he insisted that he didn't meant too much, the knot of tension in her chest visibly relaxed.

His surprise made her blush fiercely, feeling silly but realising it wasn't his intention to belittle her. She shook her head. "We didn't really do holidays growing up," Maisie heard herself confess as she picked at a rock on the floor distractedly. "I don't get out much." That was true. If her mother didn't want to go out, she was made to stay in for company. The blush deepened quickly as she imagined him in a cabin. Tall, broad and muscular, chopping wood for the log burning stove, walking through a thick forest like a huntsman, swimming in a loch and emerging like Poseidon himself. Thankful that it was dark, she allowed her imagination to delve a little deeper. Clear as day, she could see the cold Scottish water running down his chest in rivulets, sliding down the sinews and dripping off his skin. She took a gulp of her water. "I'll do that," she added, telling him that she'd visit but she knew damn well she'd never be able to.

Maisie laughed briefly. "Well that makes a change," she added lightly to the comment about being someone's favourite. When was the last time that had happened? She said no more on the subject. She didn't want Circenn to feel sorry for her, she did enough of that by herself.

"I'm sorry," she gasped, her eyes wide as they darted from left to right. It had been years since she'd suffered a panic attack like this. The woods were spinning as her heart tried to escape her ribcage. Her breath came in laboured and uneven little puffs that evaporated into the cool night air. Her sallow skin was slick with moisture, her hair matted to the back of her neck with sweat as she felt like she was burning up. Maisie felt like she was about to choke. She could feel her airways constricting, like she was being strangled by an invisible hand that was trying to snap her trachea.

"I'm sorry," she gasped, repeating the words over and over again. Her shaking hands gripped the blanket so tightly that her knuckles turned white. Poor Poco was even suffering. She was dimly aware of a whimper, even though Maisie was no longer touching him. You're gonna die, an unfamiliar voice chimed in the back of her head. It was low and soft, sounding like a whisper from somewhere she didn't know. She gasped for air, feeling detached from her surroundings as they swam in front of her, twisting and warping like an Impressionist painting.

Thankfully, she wasn't sick. His warm touch brought her back down to earth with a bump. She felt the warmth from his skin seep through her shirt as his hand moved in slow, concentric circles. Maisie held herself stiffly, curling up into a ball as best she could, rocking slightly. Magically, her breathing had slowed, seeming to match the movements of Circenn's hands. She ignored his apology and offered another one of her own, as though that was all she was capable of doing and in that moment, it felt like it was.

We're okay now.

Swiftly, Maisie looked up. Her eyes looked impossibly large in the middle of her pale, drawn face. She'd lost her mind, that much was clear. Without warning, she flung her arms around Circenn's neck in a hug and squeezed the living daylights out of him.

"Oh," he said simply as a frown made a crease between his brows. Circenn got the feeling that she was just unhappy and for some reason he couldn't name, he really, really didn't like that. He kept on coming back to the same thing even though he barely knew her: she deserved more. Thank Merlin, she couldn't see into his thoughts because she'd probably think he was crazy. He took a sip of water from canteen in his hands and glanced over at her. "What would you rather be doing instead then?" he asked, curious to what she would say, interested to know where her true passions lay.

Even though the night was dark, he thought he saw her cheeks flush and if he didn't know from that, he could tell by her behavior that he had embarrassed her. He wanted to smack himself upside the head with a beater's bat. He hadn't meant to make her feel that way. Dammit. "No worries," he said, trying to brush it off nonchalantly. It wasn't a big deal to him really. Whenever he felt he was one step closer to getting to know her, he would say something stupid and push himself three steps back. She was a mystery but one he wanted to figure out more and more.

His eyes tracked her carefully even as she began to hyperventilate. Was she.. having a panic attack? He wasn't sure, but he knew it wasn't good and also not something she could control entirely. Her whispered apologies were brushed off by him saying, "No need to apologize. Just try to take deep breaths." He continued to rub her back, his other hand moving down her arm to her hand to loosen the death grip she had around the blanket as he softly spoke assurances to her the whole time. After a few harrowing minutes, her breathing started to return to normal and Circenn felt something tight in his chest begin to relax.

Quick as a snitch, her dark eyes found his in the dark night, and she looked so vulnerable that he stilled as if being caught in her web. A second later she was at his chest, her arms around his neck, the midnight blossom scent of her hair surrounding him, her strength surprising him. He was surprised, but began moving without thought a second later after he recovered. He brought his arms around her, circling her petite frame easily, pulling her even closer. If he couldn't offer her anything else, at least he could give her this, a little bit of comfort hopefully to chase away the fear of what had happened before, a little bit of safety in knowing that he was here. "It'll be alright, Maisie," he said as he held her, his voice low as the fire cracked beside them.

"I'm not sure," came the soft, disappointed sound as she chewed her lower lip. Maisie didn't tell Circenn that she wasn't one of those kids whose parents told them they could be whatever they wanted to be when they grew up. That wasn't the Miller way. She'd never had that choice, really. "Something outdoors," she answered. She wasn't trying to be obtuse, it was simply because she'd never thought she'd be able to do anything other than her mother's bidding. "Maybe a botanist or a forest ranger," she added with a wan smile.

Maisie shook her head in a nonverbal cute to let him know that none of this was his fault. Not the wolves, not her personality and definitely not the way she responded to him.

She looked away quickly. The depths of his eyes were startling but warm, full of concern for a woman he didn't even know. Even though it was dark, she could smell the earth around them. It smelled like must and charcoal and smoke. The mountain they'd both hiked today was steep and jagged, like it had been cracked by some sort of god's hands. The mountain itself was craggy and uneven and crumpled at the base. There were a number of harpoon-shaped tips that seemed to stab the sky above, the higher ones shrouded in a ghost grey mist that disappeared around midday. Beneath her, the ground was uncomfortable, jagged little stones poking her backside but she didn't move a muscle. Around her, the wind rustled the leaves, the branches swaying softly. It was all so clear in the deathly silence that stretched for miles. She could hear a river in the distance. It was a duck egg blue, looking like a sweep of a painter's brush as it rushed beneath them somewhere below. It was the life blood of the forest, splintering like veins to feed the flowers and the wildlife and though it was running fast, the sound calmed her because it was constant and something to focus on.

Around her feet were fallen pine cones, smelling fresh, like cough sweets and toffee as one caught the spark of a flame. Even in midsummer, it smelled very…autumnal and soothing. Maisie wasn't ignoring Circenn, she was just taking a minute to gather her thoughts. Dusty rocks and soil seemed to shift into something sweeter now that it had been dark for a while. Whiffs of jasmine and honeysuckle floated above the mulch and the moss and the  petrichor. But even focusing on her favourite things didn't stop her inevitable breakdown.

She didn't mean for this, for any of this to happen at all.

Maisie didn't stop Circenn when he kindly pulled her close, so close that she found herself accidentally sitting on his lap, her long legs over his strong thighs. The warmth he was radiating and the woodsy, smokey smell of his shirt front was the only thing she was trying to hold on to. She'd lost her blanket in the kerfuffle, it had slipped off and pooled at the fireside. She panted, clinging to every part of him fiercely, as though she was afraid he'd vanish into thin air like the crackles of the fire.

Maisie clenched her eyes shut tightly, so hard that it hurt her forehead as she buried her face in the side of his neck. Silly girl, the voice in the back of her head taunted her. The same voice she'd heard since she was six years old. It haunted her, teased her, belittled her and she let it.

When was the last time someone had held her? Really held her, like Circenn was doing now? Like she was precious and breakable and valuable? Her small fingers grabbed fistfuls of the back of his shirt, holding fiercely as her body shook. She was dimly aware of Poco whimpering but that was probably because she'd leapt on his owner. A minute or two passed and she finally tried to unfurl herself with difficulty. Her joints were stiff and sore as she tried to relax. Pulling back a little and slowly, as though afraid of what might happen, her nose accidentally brushed the tip of his and she swallowed nervously. "Sorry," she whispered one more time.

Circenn was surprised and then not at all surprised at how easy it was to picture her surrounded by green in a role of a botanist or frest ranger or herbologist. It just suited her. And he smiled and nodded at her at the idea. He had been lucky enough to be able to follow his dreams and land his ideal career as a professional athlete, so he wasn't sure what it felt like to be stuck in that sort of way. But he had first-hand experience being stuck in an uncomfortable position with other aspects in his life. An idea came to mind. "One of the guys' has a sister in herbology. Maybe you could talk to her sometime?" he offered, thinking of his teammate MacDonald who owed him a favor.

It wouldn't even be that hard really. He could invite her to one of his games, she could meet MacDonald and his sister in the family and friends lounge, and maybe that would spark something from there. Circenn got caught up in the image of her in the stands, her dark hair like a ribbon on the wind. As she buried her face into his neck, her breath hot on his skin, it was easy to picture her there, but he had to remind himself not to get too ahead of himself.

He could feel her shaking against him and he frowned even as he tried to comfort her, his hand sweeping over her dark hair, the strands silky beneath his fingertips. She felt so small and delicate against him, fragile, but he felt a warmth run through him when he thought of how she trusted him in this solitary moment. Or maybe it was just a moment of weakness on her part. He wasn't sure what to think. Circenn felt Poco nudge at his arm, whimpering with baleful eyes as he looked at his owner. He had always been a perceptive dog and Circenn got the idea that Poco knew she was upset. But he wasn't quite ready to let go yet, not until Maisie was okay. It was a quiet moment, the soft shifting of fabric as Circenn rubbed her back with one hand, his other on her hair, Poco's head resting on his thigh. The night surrounded them. He felt stars shift.

Or maybe it was just her, pulling back slowly. She was so close he could see the specks of gold in her eyes, her breath mingling with his, her nose brushing his accidentally. His chest felt tight and he couldn't look away from her. She whispered an apology and he couldn't find words. He just shook his head once. She didn't have anything to be sorry for. "Did you want to turn in?" he asked, his voice quiet among the tall trees that surrounded them. "You can take the tent," he said, offering her his space, completely comfortable with sleeping her under the stars if it meant she would stay a little bit longer.

No was the overriding reaction to his very kind offer as the brakes were put on her happy ideas. She couldn't, not really. She didn't have the skill or the training or the financial backing, let alone the confidence. Maisie parted her lips to reject him instantly but something stopped her. Circenn had done a lot for her and he didn't even know her. He knew nothing about her at all.

Maybe you could talk to her sometime, he'd said, so casually. Speaking to a stranger filled her with crippling anxiety and she was starting to sweat just thinking about it now. But the look in his eye was so genuine and kind and she found herself agreeing almost instantly. "That'd be nice," she heard herself say and regretted it swiftly as she felt a pang of terror. It faded somewhat and she offered him a tiny smile, suddenly finding herself not wanting to disappoint him. It was just a chat, right? There was nothing sinister. Of course, Circenn would never find her after tonight and she felt both relived and simultaneously heartbroken.

This hadn't meant to happen.

Circenn's large hands moved swiftly over her with practise, his palms rubbing in slow, concentric circles as she struggled for breath. His body heat was so soothing as it trickled in slowly, warming her from the inside out. The fact that he hadn't panicked or pushed her away made her realise what she'd known since the minute she'd met him; he was one of the good guys. She felt very safe and it was everything to do with him.

She flushed fiercely and she thanked her lucky stars that it was dark so he couldn't see. Of course he was a gentleman. Or maybe he hadn't sensed the crackle of electricity in the air when they accidentally touched. Not meaning to, her eyes flickered down to his mouth before straight back up to his eyes, hoping he hadn't seen her gaze. Did she want to turn in? No, no she didn't but she found herself nodding, as though both body and brain were disconnected. She held still for a handful of seconds as though she was trying to memorise his warmth because she knew she'd never be in his position again.

With care, Maisie managed to get to her feet, wobbling a little as her knees locked before she righted herself, very careful not to nudge or bother Poco. Of course he'd offer her the tent; he was too good, far too good. "Thank you," she said with a smile as she lingered at the entrance, looking and feeling like a girl on a first date when the boy dropped her home and she was taking her time in hopes of a kiss. The tent flap was open and she let the dog in first before turning to take one last look at him and it was jarring. Circenn was a true woodsman as he sat by the fire, embers reflecting in his eyes and his hair catching in the wind. She felt sad suddenly. She felt her insides twist, a mix of butterflies and an icy hand that was squeezing her heart. "Thank you," she said, for perhaps the hundredth time. She'd never be able to repay him for what he'd done for her that night. "Goodnight, Circenn."

Maisie zipped the tent shut as soon as she got inside and sat cross-legged on the floor. There was no way she'd be able to sleep in his bed, full of his clothes and his things. It seemed way too intimate. Poco, however, seemed intent to take his spot and so, she adjusted herself around him. Flat on her back, her mind kicked into overdrive and erased all signs of previous tiredness. She softly stroked Poco, taking care to leave him well alone as she looked up and sighed heavily. There'd be no sleeping tonight.



It was early morning and Maisie knew that because she'd been waiting for daylight for quite sometime. She'd been so uptight that sleep hadn't come easily but she'd managed a few hours, cocooned in Circenn's warm clothes. She shifted as she zipped up her jacket and folded bits and bobs as Poco began to stir. "Sssh," she told the dog gently as she softly took hold of his muzzle and kissed his forehead. She'd managed to find a slip of spare parchment and a pen and she scribbled a quick note. It read;

Circenn,

I can't thank you enough for what you did and I'll never be able to repay you for your kindness. You were my knight in shining armour, truly. I hope Poco feels better soon. Please give him a belly rub from me.

Yours,

Maisie.

Brief, friendly and to the point. Excellent. She folded it and left the note on top of the sleeping bag before quietly unzipping the tent and turning to prevent Poco from leaving, too. "Be good," she whispered to the dog, stroking his velvet ears as she felt a lump of sadness catch in her throat. "Look after your man, hey?" She asked the dog, referring to Circenn and she was sure Poco was listening in before she kissed him again.

Getting her things together, she crept past Circenn's figure and she toyed with waking him and decided against it. What would be the point? She lingered as she chewed her lower lip, her head and heart at war as usual. Maisie wanted to touch him one last time, before she had to go back to real life but then she realised; what the Hell would he want with her? Blowing a kiss to Poco, Maisie turned resolutely and began to walk away. It felt like she was saying goodbye to someone special and the loss felt like losing a lover. But she couldn't involve him in her life, he had too much to lose.  She got as far as the edge of the camp and turned around briefly and sensing Poco might have betrayed her a little, she turned and jogged down the incline towards reality.

He stood with her and as she moved toward the tent, the cool breeze swiped away the cozy, warmth he had been feeling. Or maybe Maisie had just carried it away with her. Circenn shoved his hands in his pockets, the fire beside him crackling and throwing shadows into the trees. He was resolute in his decision to let her have the tent and his sleeping bag, but when she turned back toward him with a look he couldn't quite decipher, he almost wished he was more lenient in his values. She almost looked.. Circenn frowned as he saw her turn away after whispering a good night before he had the chance to figure out that look on her face.

His "Sleep well, Maisie," was softly said over the zipping of the tent. It was a few minutes before he forced himself to move and start the clean up for the night. He kept his ears open for any sound or word from the tent, ready, eager almost to help if Maisie called. He knew Poco was still recovering, but he knew he would keep her warm. Circenn didn't believe he could be jealous of a dog.

After puttering around quietly, cleaning up camp, collecting extra firewood, charming the fire so that it would stay lit throughout the night, and double checking the wards around the camp, Circenn settled into a spot against a large fallen tree trunk. It was a cool night but the fire kept him warm and he was naturally hot-blooded anyway, always running on the warm side. The night didn't bother him, but sleep eluded him. He tried to think of over things but his mind kept drifting back to his tent and the dark-haired woman who lay inside. It was hours later, after gazing at the stars and feeling like Maisie was gazing back, when his eyes finally drifted close.



Circenn was an early riser. Always had been. After his short night of sleep, he wasn't surprised to be waking around the same time as he normally did, it was just with a little less enthusiasm because of the grogginess that blanketed him. That was, until he remembered everything that had happened last night. He looked toward the tent and frowned immediately when he saw the door flap open. He was up quicker than a starting kick off in quidditch, his long legs taking him to the tent. He panicked when he saw it empty except for Poco's sleeping form, swinging around to scan the camp site, looking for her familiar head of dark hair. He glanced back at the tent and that's when he saw it.

He ducked and folded his tall form in through the tent flap, sitting on his haunches as he picked up the slip of parchment, dread coursing through him. Poco woke from the movement and sat up gingerly, licking Circenn's hand in greeting. He gave his dog a rub between the ears as he read her delicate handwriting.

He flipped the note over, hoping for more and then turned it back. He was.. disappointed. He glanced back out the tent and strode back out to the camp site, looking out into the trees. He felt like he needed to do something. Find her. Say something. Make sure she was alright. Help her with her bags, at least. Something, anything. But Poco came to stand beside him, walking slowly and reminding Circenn of his injuries from the night before, and whined shortly. Like he missed her already too.

She hadn't even woken him to say goodbye. Hadn't given him the opportunity to.. to what? He didn't know. He wasn't sure. But he knew he hadn't been ready to say goodbye so quickly, so resolutely. He didn't even know her last name. He glanced down at Poco, feeling weighed down by responsibility, his day already feeling less brighter than it had in those first few moments he had woken up. Still, he took another full lap around the camp site, just to make sure, before tending and checking Poco's wounds. He was already making a plan in his mind too. If he just happened to take the long way back, he might pass her first campsite, and maybe that would be something.