Douse This Fire

It took all of her control to keep from reflexively flinching away from Ezra's paw when it came up to clean her cheek of the stray traitorous tears that had managed to escape her eyes. Ezra—this is Ezra. She hated that she had to keep reminding herself that he wasn't a threat to her, but she'd also never felt more vulnerable than she did now. She hated it, loathed the feeling of being unable to protect herself and being afraid of everything right now. She felt like a beacon to every brute, and every brute terrified her, made her fear that the past was doomed to repeat itself. He spoke with a harshness directed at the wolves that had once been her family, condemning them with blame. Emerald eyes had darkened with doubt at his words that this wasn't her fault, that she wasn't weaker for what she had endured. But she appreciated that he said he would always want to be around her. It made her feel less like damaged goods—even if only a little bit.

Without a word, Syanna leaned her head forward and rested her forehead against Ezra's while she tried to keep herself held together. Gods, she was such an idiot for thinking that Ezra could ever be a threat to her. "It's easy for you to day that. You don't even know what you're talking about, Ezra," she muttered under her breath. "What if it was my fault? What if it happened because of me? What if you're barking up the wrong tree with me?" He was sweet—too much so. He would defend her at all costs; she had seen it so when he nearly died fighting that saber cat for her. But what if Ezra was fighting the wrong battle? The giant boy was such a sap for her and all he knew was her name. Poor, deluded fool...

"Syanna Alluráin"