It wasn’t just hard to keep the memories at bay, it was impossible, he was a fool for thinking otherwise. But then, he had always been like that, suppressing his trauma to the point where he thought it forgotten, but it always lurked right below the surface. It almost destroyed him once, when Oliver showed up in Oak Tree Bend, dredging up those old memories; If it hadn’t been for Silver… And then she’d died, been killed, torn apart by those monsters. So he’d avenged her, made sure they would never do such a thing to anyone else, ever again. But he’d done it for her, and for himself. At least Reyes had been fast enough to actually save Askan’s life; Thank the heavens!

And he’d come to the leader for advice, which was a big step for the rogue. But now he’s brows seemed to be growing heavier, gaze darkening. From his brusquer tone, Drestig could tell their conversation was at a close, perhaps he had gone to far, but he’d given it his best. It was hard though, to look at this young brute and see so much of his own past in him, yet feel the existent divide between them. Reyes deserved to know that they had this in common, that he was in no way the first to do a thing like this, or experience such feelings afterwards. But the chance seemed passed, or perhaps he was just to cowardly to bring it up. Instead he nodded at the ebony man, lips set in a bitter smile; “Think of it that way,” he instructed, hoping to give the other at least a little peace of mind; “You did the right thing, Reyes. You saved him.” But this wasn’t enough either, he knew that much. Drestig wanted to thank him, but that too would be a pointless gesture, it hadn’t been done for his sake after all.

Instead he said: “Sometimes, there’s no other way, it needs to be done.” Ember eyes grew distant then, those dreaded memories finally making their appearance, horrible images flashing before him. He gritted his teeth; “Some wolves deserve to die, they’re too rotten inside…” His eyes flickered shut, and he sucked in a breath through still closed teeth. Then he sighed and shook his head, blinking back to reality, and Reyes still standing across from him; “It’s not a good thing, but it’s necessary.”

Word count: 403

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