silent whispers silent tears

Walk | Talk | Think

It had been so easy to keep up her strong, comfortable appearance around him when he didn't bother asking questions. She could pretend that everything she said, the way she acted alone, was the truth of it and that there was nothing at all wrong, nothing at all that weighed on her mind and ate up her thoughts. But he knew her too well. Or perhaps his thoughts surprisingly mirrored her own. Ashtoreth tried not think either were likely as Leon ventured a step closer and offered her shoulder a gentle consolate nudge, acknowledging that he should have been there for her. No, she wanted to counter as she resisted the urge to turn her face and brush her cheek against the fur of his neck, even though she had felt the same sting of those thoughts herself at the time she had returned to find his den empty. He had no responsibility to her she had had to remind herself, no real reason for her to be angry at him for seeking his family. But if even he acknowledged it himself, if he felt the same...could there have been some soundness to it after all?

The conversation was already moving, however, rolled along by Leon's quick witted answer. Under the stars, huh? That was how he thought it would be? Or was this another loaded suggestion that she had yet to figure out? It puzzled her, but in a rather pleasant way, easily drawing back her playful smile that mimicked his own. "Better hope the weather holds up," she answered only to be a pest. It was far too fun to tease him than just let things go. And it felt good to get back to how things were between them, playful banter and all.

Eventually the suggestion was made that one night be offered for the one she had been given so long ago, the refuge she had brought up. The lithe grey wolf nodded her head though the single night seemed so unfair. He was her best friend; she would have been happy to let him stay with her as long as he liked. But she couldn't bring herself to say it, couldn't bring herself to think that it might have been something that she wanted. But she could think about the time prior, and how enjoyable that had been. "Sounds like a plan," she answered, smiling. "Think you can find your way back to it?" It was as much an honest question as it was a gentle taunt. He had been gone for some time; it seemed reasonable that he might be capable of losing his bearings now that he had finally returned. And if he did, she planned on being there to help. She was glad to have him back and couldn't quite bring herself to be okay with parting from him just yet.