crying out into the dark night

She was falling, falling forever into the volcano. Sucked in by the lava and pulled into the center of the earth. Suddenly everything stopped moving. The heat was replaced with a comforting warmth and a soothing scent filled her senses. A heavy sigh left her pale lips as wakefulness brushed over her eyes. She blinked lightly, still half absorbed into the nightmare she’d been pulled free from. The young Empress lifted her head slightly as she found Hattori’s high contrast coat. His silver eyes easy to catch. Dual toned tail wagged slightly beneath what she then realized was his cloak. She had been confused by his sudden presence, but if he’d known that she was having a bad dream…

Her expression softened considerably, he showed his feelings in very subtle ways, but the gesture spoke volumes as a result. She could feel her emotions getting away with her as her face grew hot. Hattori offered his cloak, but she all too quickly imagined his arms around her shoulders instead. A shy grin flashed over her features as she lowered her head over her back. ”Thank you,” she told him quietly as she snuggled into the dark cloak pretending it was the shinobi’s embrace.