red sky at morning BY Carasson

The moment they were on the same level and arms grappled him into an embrace, Cara melted. Air expelled in a pained rush from his mouth, eyes squeezing shut at the discomfort his body experienced with every movement. He embraced back, though he feared squeezing too hard and instead just allowed his hands to ghost over shoulders. It was a relief not to have to continue in the farce that any of this was okay, because it wasn't. For either of them to be so effected was serious on its own, not to mention the overarching circumstance. 

A sort of whimper sounded in his throat at the Keeper's declaration. His already burning eyes burned anew with brimming tears. Twenty years, give or take, he'd been with Varahel. Twenty years he'd spent in the company of Chip, Inala and Chi. Twenty years in which he'd grown to love each of them in different ways. Twenty years he'd stiffled urges he worried might ruin an already good thing. Fate however, had other plans for these sorts of inevitabilities. I love you. he replied simply. And though he'd said the words before they took on a different meaning as of late. 

The Keeper's next words however, forced his blood to chill. He stilled, frozen, every muscle locked before he could fully comprehend what he was hearing. 

Posession. 

It would explain the lapses in memory, would explain his uncharacteristic use of blood magic. A fire burned deep in his gut as if answering a call. Cara stirred, panic starting reflect in his features. He pulled away, arms dropping, forcing himself out of them embrace. No, this didn't seem right. Bile rose in his throat as he studied Chip's features then, noted the splotches of red. A hand reached up, fingertips grazing some of the dried blood on the man's face. Rage demons were a formidable force. But rage demons also had a purpose. Rage demons had a master. 

As if he'd been shocked, Carasson pulled back his hand.  The fire, bright but shrouded in an inexplicable darkness continued to swell inside of him. 

He huffed, his eyes darkening ever so slightly as he warred with intrusive emotions. He fell to his heels, scrambling backward away from Chip despite the revolt from every inch of his body. No, I...I'm sorry. On his hands and needs he crawled for the door, manging to pull himself up with the handle by sheer willpower before he was able to stumble outside. Whether he was running on his own volition or something else, he couldn't say. All he wanted to do was get as far away from his Keeper as possible. When he was over the closest dune, he braced on his knees and emptied the contents of his stomach violently, before continuing on until he could no longer move.