Time for a New Day

Aiden's heart broke as the woman sank into the ground with a whine. She seemed at a loss for words for a long minute, and Aiden waited patiently for the answer. When that answer came, his own ears flattened at the words, and he too whined. That was when he dropped down to the ground and crept forward himself, aiming to nuzzle the woman in comfort, if allowed. "No, you aren't." he murmured, voice firm. "You are hurt. You aren't a monster. You see... monsters are like those slavers, from the slave raid. The inside is what determines a monster, not the outside. No scar, no marking, no anything can make someone a monster. You just have a visible mark of your history. What's underneath that bandage will be a sign of your journey and of what you've had to face in life. It tells a story. It is part of who you are, and that's okay." He paused, before trying to poke her again with his muzzle. "I see a scared, and scarred, young woman. I see a woman who faced a disaster and came out alive. I can't imagine anyone seeing a monster when they look at you." And if someone did - they needed a swift reminder of what scars represented.

"Speech" "You"