For guriel, the AU of the first meeting between them in CoG, continued...

[werewolf_hacker]

[The Army, blessedly, expedites Ben's trip home. He and Guriel go on a transport from Bagram to Ramstein in Germany, and from there on a commercial flight to New York. They're flying coach, which Ben hates, because he knows that can't be comfortable for Guriel's wing like it is, but he can't afford the upgrade to first

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[guriel]

[Guriel's been half-asleep -- only because it's too dark now for him to see anything through the window (when the sun was still out he had his forehead plastered to the pane, gazing down with awe and wonder and longing at the view below). The discomfort of the cramped quarters isn't unbearable, and he's learned to make the best of a lot of uncomfortable situations in his life.

But when Ben wakes, Guriel does, too. The child's distress pings the caretaker in him, even though it's been a very, very long time since Guriel had a child in his care . . .

But he's got more immediate concerns now, because Ben is clearly not okay. He lays his hand on Ben's forearm.]

Ben?

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben is fighting Something, in the back recesses of his mind. He's not even sure what it is, exactly, just that it terrifies him on a visceral level. He's breathing hard through clenched teeth, and he squeezes his eyes shut.]

...Guriel? What. [His voice comes out in a strangled huff.]

[guriel]

[Guriel doesn't know, exactly, but he can feel it through the link that the ring creates between them -- Something dangerous and angry. The hair on the back of his neck rises.]

I don't know exactly. Something's . . . wrong.

[Something that reminds him too much of his last Master's anger and that monstrous wolf they brought into the cave . . .]

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben's fingers are white-knuckled on the armrest. He hasn't sprouted claws (yet), but Something wild and horrid and wrathful is tearing at his psyche, fighting for egress.]

Make it stop. Make it stop. Please make it stop...

[werewolf_hacker]

[Ben sighs.] Not particularly, but I'm functioning. Let's finish up and go home, yeah? [He checks the list, which is still... fairly daunting. Ugh.]

One aisle at a time. We can do this.