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The glow of the sunrise spilled out over the river, highlighting the water a sparkling gold where it rippled and crested against smooth stone outcroppings and fallen tendrils of prairie brush. The light slipped through the gaps in the clump of cottonwood trees near where Gale and Astarion laid, dappling them with slivers of heat and warming the ground beneath them.
Gale blinked against the growing brightness and turned to stare fondly at Astarion’s sleeping form. They had been out together near the river for a while, lounging side by side on the dew-damp grass and dozing in the hazy flush of dawn. Gale couldn’t remember who had started off for the riverside first, really, just that they had wound up there together. He supposed it was a particularly good spot to catch the sunrise, and Astarion was a particularly nice companion for catching it with.
It had been nice spending so much time with him recently. Gale could recall many times over the last year in which he had found himself next to his friend-turned-something-more, quietly observing the world around them and basking in each other’s presence. It had been, probably, the best year of Gale’s life.
Beside him, Astarion began to stir. He was slow at first, tipping his head this way and that as he roused. Then he shifted, blinking lazily over at Gale, and stretched his legs out as if he meant to stand. Gale took the silent invitation for what it was and stood himself, arching his back as he went and letting out a deep groan at the stretch. Astarion huffed at the noise and Gale grumbled back fondly.
A breeze picked up, carrying with it the scent of wildflowers. Gale watched Astarion tip his head into the wind, lifting his nose to take in a deep breath.
Gale wished he could tell him he loved him.
A long, loving look would have to suffice. Astarion would understand, surely. It was the best that either of them could do, after all.
A sudden rumbling noise from Gale’s stomach broke through his thoughts. He hadn’t had anything to eat since the prior evening, and he had always been one to wake up hungry.
So, naturally, Gale bent down and ripped a large, succulent mouthful of prairie grass from the earth.
The bison raised his head, chewing away at his grass, and looked over at his love. Astarion had begun to eat as well, chomping away at a little cluster of prairie coneflowers. Gale blinked at him happily. The other bison was always one to go for maximum color in his diet. It was very endearing.
A far away chorus on grunting signaled that their herd was on the move. Gale tilted his head in their direction, sending a silent question toward Astarion with his body language. The other bison grumbled back.
Not done with his flowers, then. Gale huffed affectionately and dipped his head back down, biting off another mouthful of grass.
For Astarion, he would wait as long as he needed to.
⬆️ Art by Dolceael
⬆️ Art also by Dolceael
⬆️ Art by sodapopseagull
⬆️ Art by me!