In the Interim

Just as Chimera had been prepared to erupt, so too had Aliana been prepared—prepared to receive the bites she knew would inevitably be coming her way for wasting her time, prepared for her body to take whatever Chimera desired to do to it, whether it was with his claws or his teeth or his cock. She saw the way his eyes narrowed, knowing he could only see her through the left, but feeling the same rage spilling forth from both. She flinched inwardly, ears folded back, tail tucked between her legs, trying to make herself as small as possible. It was impossible to read anything in the brute's stony expression, making it nerve-racking to wonder just what might come next. But none of her predictions would have anticipated the words that fell from his lips in a low, masculine growl.

"Thank you." Ali blinked in surprise, her tension releasing simply from the shock of hearing him thank her instead of punishing her. Aquamarine eyes gazed up at her master curiously, wondering if this was some sort of hallucination, or if perhaps he was playing a trick on her. But no, Chimera's expression seemed to soften a touch now that he knew what she was up to. Was it because it was something that benefitted his sister? Had she been right about her observations? Chimera refused any service to himself and moved to go wash himself up, to restore his magnificent coat back to pristine condition, then asked what she needed. Ali didn't respond right away, still too taken aback by the shift in his personality to this side of him she'd never seen before.

"O-Oh! Well, I still need lumber for the structure itself. Tree limbs that might have fallen or can be broken off and aren't rotted." She followed beside him and slightly behind as she spoke, rapidly running through her mental checklist of supplies she needed. She already had some sharp stones to use as chisels to whittle the wood as she needed. "If it's not too much trouble, do you think you might be able to help me gather some wood, Sir? They need to be whittled into something usable, like planks, or notch out some pegs and holes in them to lock them together." She chanced a glance up at him, giving him a small smile as she added, "Thank you, Sir."

"Aliana"