"Is that what you want Darla?" Daryn asked looking into her shining wide eyes.
"Why, you don't want me to?" Her brows creased.
"Of course i want you to come with me...but i want you to decide without any pressure"
"Well i have decided." She said firmly giving no room for argument.
Daryn sighed and pulled her close nuzzling her neck. Oh, how much he wanted to bring her this close since he had woken in her shed. He had loved her since the moment her saw her but he feared.
He feared she would leave him. Or wouldn't love him back. So he chose to enjoy her company.
But she opened up to him, expressed her emotions when he couldn't express his. Well, it wasn't that he couldn't he just didn't know how.
Cowardice.
He shook his head at his own cowardice and foolishness.
"Darla how long had you known we were mates" he asked
"At first, i wasn't sure but eventually i noticed. I waited for you to say something but you didn't say anything even though your feelings were obvious but you did not own them. Then Maria encouraged me to make the first approach"
"I'm sorry for being a coward. I couldn't own up to my own feelings"
Darla pulled back enough to see his face then. She cupped his face in both hands and kissed him. The kiss was sudden and it took Daryn by surprise for a second but eventually he focused on the kiss and kissed her back with the same intensity.
When the kissed stopped Darla stroked his chin and said;
"Yes you were a coward....but at least you allowed me make my choice that is what matters to me"
Daryn sighed and pulled her close. "I love you Darla." He snorted " since i awoke in your house"
She laughed. "Now you tell me"
"Forgive me"
"You are forgiven" she said pulling him closer as they cuddled. "And you are not allowed to go anywhere without me" They held onto each other until they both slept.
Before the day brightened the next day, they had woken up and started organising their things for the journey back to the jungles.
Daryn went to Darla's room that Eric slept in that night and tried waking him up but the man refused. So he took Darla's leather bag were her she kept her clothes and took it back to his room so she could find something new to wear.
The inn attendant brought them hot water and they both took a bath. When all was set and their goods were intact, they prepared to leave the inn.
"Where are you going to?" Eric's voice sounded from the door as Daryn and Darla discussed their journey for the day.
"We are headed home Eric" Daryn answered.
"Without me?"
"Why, should i have taken you along with us?"
Eric pursed. Then he shouted in anger.
"I came in search of you Daryn. I came in search of my best friend. Walked distances to get to you and now i found you, you want to abandon me? So much for friendship"
Daryn huffed then looked at Eric. "First off; i didn't ask you to look for me. You came of your own free will. So it is your choice to stay or leave. So don't blame me for anything Eric"
Eric snorted.
"You were right Daryn. He is sensitive." Darla suddenly said from the foot of the bed carrying her leather bag. "Don't worry Eric we plan to bring you along too"
"Then why didn't he say so?" Eric asked still angry.
"I had tried waking you before but you sleep like a log Eric" Daryn answered going back to his goods.
"If i had not drank that much at the bar maybe i would not have slept that way and whose fault was it?"
Daryn did not bother answering.
"But Eric, we don't know where you would stay. The shed won't be big enough for us three" Darla said which made Eric start thinking of how he would get a house.
"Not to worry he'll build his. Daryn said turning to Eric "The jungle is full of resources. Definitely you would find wood and rocks. Both that are needed for building. He can do it"
Eric paled.
"Ok so where does he stay in the time he is still building his home?" Darla asked.
"I think he can stay with us. But, on a notice so he doesn't laze in his work."
"Maybe a month?"
"A month is even more than enough. He should be done in three weeks tops"
Eric shook his head as he tried to wrap his head around what was happening. "So i have to build my house?"
"Yeah. There are no built houses in the jungles unless you plan to live natural. Which i think is a good idea"
"I hate you Daryn"
Daryn laughed. "Its mutual my friend"
Darla then spoke in a mild tone. "Look Eric without making plans like these you won't survive at were you want to follow us to. We need to know you are going to try than lean too much on us"
"No hard feelings man" Daryn piqed
"Why do you want to follow us so much anyway?" Darla asked.
Eric paused then sighed. "He must have told you....I'm a champion of Apollo and since the tournaments are coming others would be looking for competition and removing it. I thought i could tag team with my friend here to increase our chances of survival. ~haa~ ; the tournaments are gonna be different this time"
He said and raised the arm of his short sleeved shirt to show her his brand. A skin stamped drawing of the sun with a lyre by the side that merged with his skin.
Darla nodded. "Well then, if you can start working on what we have told you, you can come with us"
"If not we send you back to this village or you stay in the jungles and fend for yourself" Daryn added tilting his head.
"Ok the first target will be to build a place to live when i get there"
"Good. Lets get going then"
The three took out their belongings and left the inn. Darla had to branch to Gorav's door so she could tell the family she was going. They said their goodbyes and asked her to come visit them again soon.
After Daryn payed for their stay they all left the inn.