Curate, connect, and discover
goal: write without stopping for 10 minutes world: Atelis
Cori ran through the hall, ignoring his father's shout behind him, and sprinted towards the front door. Surely he had misheard or not understood. Memories flashed through his mind, each tender spent with Geod slipping through his fingers as sand on the shore. Without thinking, he shifted. Leaping into the air, Cori landed on his paws with his tail swishing to keep his balance. The front door was being slowly closed by a servant, but he managed to skirt through the servant's feet. She shrieked but Cori kept running.
He had to catch Geod. How could he leave without saying goodbye? Surely Geod wouldn't leave him, not without saying anything. Cori's heart beat rapidly in his chest, his eyes stinging with tears even though he knew they wouldn't fall in this form. His paws slapped against the paved ground as he took off down the driveway.
There. Just in view, Cori could see the large figure of Geod slowly walking into the countryside, a small pack in his hand. Cori yipped and ran faster, tripping over his paws as he tried to catch up. He must have made enough noise, however, because Geod paused and his ear twitched.
Cori shifted again, stumbling as he adjusted from running with four feet to two. "Geod! Geod, wait!"
Geod hadn't moved, and the closer Cori got, the more he could see the sadness etched in his face. Cori inhaled sharply before skidding to a stop. Gasping for breath, he leaned over and tried to slow his breathing.
"You--you were going to leave," he gasped, tears finally spilling out of his eyes. "Father said--said you--Geod, you can't--"
Large arms wrapped around him and Cori clung to Geod's shirt, loud sobs finally escaping him. He always wondered when his father would snap. His father threatened more than he did anything else, and Cori knew it was only a matter of time until the other shoe dropped. But on Geod? His Geod? His world was crumbling underneath him.
"What am I supposed to do without you?" he sobbed.
Geod gently patted his back, rubbing in a circular motion. "The same thing you did with me," he said slowly. "I think we both knew this wouldn't last forever."
Cori only shook his head. Maybe if he refused the truth, it would disappear. "I--I can convince him! Just come back, please. I can get--get him to take you back, and--"
Stepping back, Geod placed his large hands on Cori's shoulders. He smiled sadly. "No, Zen. Nothing you say will change his mind."
And wasn't that the horrible truth of it all? With all his power and influence, it didn't matter under the thumb of Cori's father.