Willows

His smile was gentler, a lot softer than his usual grin as she thought it over, whatever it might be. He was no mind-reader, but he was perceptive. He’d brushed close to something still raw. No doubt that rawness would heal, and she’d be fully ready to face whatever trauma had occurred to bring her to the Armada, and if he could help her in any way, whether to be a punching bag, or the shoulder she cried on, he’d offer himself up without a thought. It was just who he was.

Her mischievous side slid back into sight as she teased him for his philosophy, and he laughed softly, head cocked with one ear drooping to the side, the other ear perked straight up to the sky. “I’ve definitely cursed a few times. Usually at a lion. Might I add that you are way more fun to spar than an angry lion? Or two?”

He shuddered with some theatrics, but it wasn’t all feigned. He was pretty sure that if his heart had been hammering any harder at those times it would have exploded, leaving him keeled over dead at the paws of a very confused, angry, and probably hungry, big cat.

His hips wiggled, tail thrashing the ground as she accepted his offer, and he nodded with a grin. His eyes followed hers to the sky, noting with some surprise that he’d been there for a good few hours without really even noticing the passage of time. Funny how it flew in good company.

He had been thinking of seeing whether Ulric was around, but now he had a deer to carve up, and a hide to carry home, so… “I was. But I’m sure I’ll bump into him, or them, at some other time. I should get that deer carved up so I can carry it home. Or maybe I’ll try building a campfire from scratch and dry the venison, make it easier to carry.”

He did find himself looking for small ways to prolong his time with his new friend, but, at the same time, he didn’t want her getting in trouble if she was needed for any training back in the Armada.

He chuckled softly and stretched his way to his paws, studying her thoughtfully. He was pretty sure he had an idea for the hide’s use.

Walk ---- "Speak" ---- "Hear" ---- Think