In Your Head

                                    

                                          
It was very clear after feeling Palace's body move beneath his own slumped-over one for a long while that he wasn't sure where he was going. He paused every couple of minutes and turned this way or that, sniffed the air, then grumbled, before heading off in a new direction than the one he had been traveling in. 
                          
Jamie doubted that he was doing it on purpose to try and throw off anyone following them, though. He could feel Palace's mind just beyond his own thoughts. He wasn't sure how he'd managed to push his way inside of his head earlier, but he figured that perhaps the brothers had some sort of ability special to them, because it was extremely rare for those who were not relatives or bonded to have the ability to communicate telepathically. 
                          
He wasn't sure if Palace was able to focus enough to realize that he was awake, but he could tell that Knight was still unaware. His arm was tucked around his right side, holding him beneath the right side of his own chest so that he wouldn't fall off of Palace's back. 
                          
"Pal, let's find a place to rest soon. I can tell that you're too stressed to navigate clearly. Let's get some sleep somewhere safe for a bit." Knight said, his voice sounding tired. 
                          
Jared couldn't blame him for wanting to stop for a while. He had been holding him on his brother's back for at least hour, if not longer since he'd been out cold for part of the ride. 
                          
Unfortunately, it seemed like Palace completely ignored Knight, because instead of slowing down, he rustled his wings and hastened his pace. 
                          
Palace? Jamie tried, curious if he could get through to Palace in his mind. He could definitely feel his wolf there, almost as if it was pacing on the edge of his thoughts, but seemed unsure of how their new connection actually worked. 
                          
That makes two of us, buddy. I've only ever been able to talk to my pride and my direct family. 
                          
The thought of Jared, and his inability to contact him made Jamie's stomach twist with worry. He'd been far enough away from him plenty of times to be unable to get into contact mentally, but this time it hadn't been by choice. 
                          
I don't feel well, Palace. Can we please stop for a short while? 
                          
He really didn't. He had a bad headache, was hungry and very thirsty, but he was also starting to feel the stress that came with the situation he was now in. Jamie wasn't too worried about Knight, but he could do very little to protect himself against Palace if he  made a mistake and caused a reaction. 
                          
Jamie was about to try and get him to stop again when he felt Palace slow from a decent run to a lazy lope. He let his aching eyes crack open to see the blurry green underbrush around them begin to come into focus as Palace finally came to a stop in a little clearing filled with fallen leaves and struggling weeds. 
                          
He expected Palace to shrug him off his back to the dead leaves beneath his paws, or for Knight to shove him off, at least, but when Palace lowered himself to lay down in a thick bed of leaves, then gently tilted his body after Knight had climbed off until he slid gently into the soft ground-cover, he was incredibly relieved. 
                          
Thank you. This is already much better. He thought to Palace, a little surprised when he felt a sudden presence shove its way into his mind, making him wince. The entity wavered and retreated almost immediately, bringing a smile to Jamie's face as it began its usual pace just out of his mind's reach. 
                          
It's okay. You just startled me. 
                          
The presence disappeared for a few minutes as Palace glanced around the area, panting quietly, then slowly crept back to the edge of his thoughts, as if it were curious. Thank you for stopping, Palace. Jamie thought to him as he slowly began to roll over onto his side. When he was able to push himself up into a sitting position, leaning forward on shaky arms, he realized that there were two sets of eyes on him.