for Lloyd and Alain

[kings_dog]

In the aftermath of the debacle that had been his argument with Bert, Sandor burst out of the compound careless of who stood by to see his overwrought expression and the singleminded focus with which he barrelled around the corner toward the garden. His heart was pounding, and he felt close to choking on his own confused feelings. On the side of the goat pen, between the fence and one of the slim trees that stood to shade the animals, he sank to the ground with his back to the trunk and his arms draped over his bent knees, trying to catch his breath. He was altogether unused to this burning feeling in his gut, like the twisting of a knife before it's ripped out. His eyes grew hot and stung with tears, and he let a few fall, not caring who might come upon him thus.

His eyes were mostly dry by the time a shadow fell across his face, and he looked up into the bright sun. Shading his eyes with a hand, he almost dropped it again when he recognized who stood there, but instead essayed a dry smile. "Afternoon," he said, somewhat hoarse.

(dated the first morning of opposite plot, for threads with lloyd and alain.)