Cain nodded and took a bite out of a roll. "It's true. I'm used to many foods, but this reminds me more of home," he said softly. "It's truly kind of you." It was strange that they were extra kind to him like this. Kirin he was starting to understand, but his mother also?

"Now I have questions for you." Kirin's mother stated. "But I am sure you have a million questions as well. Do feel free to ask them. I will be as open as I can in my answers."

Cain blinked in confusion. Questions? What kind of weird Q&A was going to go on during their dinner. It was true though; he did have questions. "Tell me more about your race. I still fee as if I know nothing," he said after a second. He couldn't think of a more specific question to ask. He didn't even know the basics.

"I could spend weeks telling you about the history of our people. So I will give you a condensed version of it." She said with a smile. "There have been dragons on this world for many millennium. The current ruling family, of this kingdom, came into power several thousand years ago." She paused for a moment. "The current ruling family has brought about much peace and prosperity to the kingdom. Before there was much war, the dragons fighting with other dragon kingdoms. The dragons fighting against humans and so on."

The mini history lesson was interesting, but it didn't tell Cain the things he most wanted to know. It did bring an interesting question to his mind though. "Exactly how long does your kind live?" he asked curiously, and a little incredulously. The mention of years in the thousands had him baffled. He couldn't imagine such a long concept of time.

"We have been known to live for centuries. Unless we are killed, or get sick." She said with a smile. "Has Kirin told you how old he is?"

Cain's eyes widened in amazement. Part of him wanted to be scared of such formidable people, but he just couldn't quite be afraid when he felt so relaxed in their presence. "That sounds impossible to believe! Such long lives exist? Don't you...get bored with all of that time?" Cain asked. He felt sure that he would himself. The reason he was so motivated was that he knew that there was only so much time to live. It's what gave his life meaning, but then...how far could he travel with that many years? He could touch the ends of the earth. Finally Cain turned to look at Kirin. "No...I never thought to ask. How old?"

"I'm five hundred years old, rather young by dragon standards. And no I don't get bored. There are always new things to do and people to meet." He said with a smile.

"I keep myself entertained by traveling myself." Kirin's mom said with a smile.q

Cain stiffed a small coughing, choking sound. 500?! He was just barely 20 himself. Even when he was older than the white bearded story teller he often listened to as a kid, Cain's life would barely be a smudge in Kirin's greater years. That put things into perspective. "Such spans of lives...don't I seem more like an insect to you?" he asked. That was it. He was in the same place as the water beetle who lives and died over the course of the summer rainy season.

"Not at all," He said with a smile. "You are amazing. You do so much in such a short time. It's rather amazing." Kirin said with a smile.

Kirin's mother watched them eating a bit of food as she does so.

Hesitantly, Cain smiled at Kirin. He wasn't sure how much he trusted those words. "Do you really think so?" he asked softly. "You're the one with such splendor. I feel like nothing next to you." It was embarrassing and painful to admit that, but he couldn't stop his words.

"I do mean it Cain. I really do." He softly cupped Cain's cheek. He resisted the urge to kiss him again, as it hadn't gone well the first time. "You are amazing." He said smiling at Cain.

Cain pulled away, but not far. He ducked his head, staring at his lap. "Why are you saying things like that now?" he muttered as he started to turn pink. This was so embarrassing. It was one thing for Kirin to talk to him with such open words when they were alone, but did he have to give such looks when his mother was in the room?

"I can't help it if it's true." He said with a smile.

"There is nothing to be embarrassed about," Kirin's mother said with a smile.

Nothing to be embarrassed about? How could anyone say such a thing? Kirin was just so easily throwing out cheesy words to him, another man. It was strange. Cain put down his silverware suddenly and frowned at a wall. "I'm not hungry anymore," he muttered.

Kirin let out a soft sigh.

"There is something you need to know about my son, and most dragons in general. We tend to be bisexual, meaning we fall in love with either males or females. To us it doesn't matter. Though I will admit my son has been more open with his feelings then most."

For a second, Cain's eyes widened, then he narrowed them again. He wasn't surprised, actually. And if he thought about it, it made sense. Why wouldn't dragons be less picky about gender when they had so long to live and met so many people? The problem was, Cain could never be that open with feelings himself. "I am not the same way though," he said gruffly. He pushed back his chair, reveling in the harsh scrape it made against the floor as he stood. "I'm going to go to the bathroom."

Kirin's mother nodded. "It's right up that hallway. Second doorway." She said with a kind smile.

Kirin said nothing not sure what to say and afraid anything he might say would just make things worse.

Cain stalked off, walking faster than he needed to. He was running away again and he hated the fact that he was. He passed the second door and kept walking like his feet were the ones doing the thinking. It wasn't as if he actually had to go to the bathroom; he just wanted out of the room. So Cain headed straight for the first window he saw. He pushed it open and climbed down, still feeling as if his legs couldn't stop walking. He didn't know where he was walking to though. If he walked far enough, would Kirin come searching for him? Cain couldn't decide if the idea of that happening was a good or bad one.

Kirin excused himself from the table, knowing that Cain had left. He didn't know how he knew but he just knew it. He head to his rooms. He had told Cain he was free to leave at anytime. He wondered if he would come back. He fought back tears in the hall, but when he got to his rooms he let a few tears slide down his cheeks.

By the time that Cain thought to stop walking, he realized he had no idea where he was. It was fully dark out now and the new moon offered no light to see by. Only stars cast the barest hint of silver onto the tops of trees. Cain shivered and rubbed his arms. He hadn't meant to walk so far. Actually, he meant to return in the end because he realized as he walked, that he wasn't really upset with Kirin or scared. Now, he seemed to be in the woods again and he couldn't see the castle through the dark tree trunks. With a sigh, he sunk down to the ground and leaned back against a tree, his knees pulled to his chest. "This is just great. Now what are you gonna do, huh?" he muttered to himself. He finally wanted to go back to the castle, but he was too lost to do so.

As it grew dark Kirin grew worried. He had a feeling that something wasn't right. He had to go find Cain. He took a few of his guards men with him. He walked through the market talking to some of the people. Soon he knew what direction Cain had been last seen going in. He headed out of the town and into the woods. "CAIN!" Kirin called as he entered the forest. He does his best to keep the panic out of his voice. He must stay calm. He can't allow himself to panic, though that's the main thing he wants to do right now.

Cain knew all too well the dangers that a forest could provide. Without any supplies, it would be difficult to create any kind of protection. The howl of the wind sounded too much like a growl and he heard rustlings that couldn't have been made by the wind. He wasn't alone in the trees. Pulling out a knife from his boot, Cain pulled himself up into a crouch. He was glad that he hadn't quite relaxed enough with his surroundings to put away the weapon he always kept on him. Just as he was abut to stalk forward, he heard his name being called by a familiar voice.

"Kirin?" Cain called as he stood, peering around some bushes. He saw figures in the darkness not too far away, but wasn't afraid despite the haunting way they moved amongst the shadows. Without hesitation, Cain ran forward and threw his arms around Kirin, dropping his knife in the process. "I'm so sorry I ran off! Please forgive me!"

Kirin held Cain close wrapping his wings around him tightly. "Shhh, shhhhh." He mumbled into Cain's hair. He was just so happy that he had found him. Kirin wanted to kiss him but just contents himself with holding him at the moment. "You're alright, you aren't hurt are you?" He asked concern filling his voice as he mumbled into Cain's hair.

Cain shook his head without pulling away from Kirin. "I'm fine. I just got lost," he said. He didn't want to admit that he had been scared, but tears were pricking at his eyes now that he knew he was safe again. Kirin was holding him in such a way that Cain felt protected like never before. Did this mean that he was forgiven? Cain still felt he was in the wrong for running away. "Is it really okay? I didn't upset you did I?"