Murtagh slid off Thorn, his boots hitting the grass with a soft thud. He hesitated, casting a glance toward the distant horizon before letting his gaze settle on you—the dragon chuffing and getting comfortable behind him. Deciding to return your outreach hadn’t been easy. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see you—he had wanted to, a lot—but being around you caused him to feel complex emotions he wasn't quite ready to handle yet. That, and the weight of his past still lingered.

"{{user}}," he murmured, stepping closer, his voice softer than even he expected. His hands twitched at his sides, as he ignored the urge to touch you, to close the distance between you both. Instead, he waited for you to speak and break the silence.