I Remember Your Face

For the briefest of moments, Alastor wondered if he might be pushing her too hard, or if she might decline his offer. He didn't want her to. He wanted to take the chance to help her grow, just like he did a year ago during the long winter. He wanted to show her the potential she had within her, to watch her overcome the struggles and restraints of her past and become the powerful, confident independent woman he knew she could be. They could stalk through the forests together on hunts, spar and practice the art of fighting with one another. He would take her under his wing, protect her and love her, give her everything he could offer. All she had to do was say yes.

That was the exact word to leave Sera's lips a moment later. Yes. She agreed, and Alastor beamed, black eyes lighting up with a light usually devoid of those obsidian gems. He watched her swallow a deep breath, then with a look of concentrated determination, she brought her paw down hard onto his until their paw pads smacked audibly together. He expected a moment of contact and then retreat, but much to his amazement Sera didn't pull back. He glanced down at where her paw was gripping his, and he left his paw relaxed, not wanting to freak her out by squeezing or capturing her daintier foot in his massive one. This alone was a monumental step in the right direction for her.

Alastor laughed at her comment about him saving a lost damsel, tickled by the notion that he could ever be the hero in anyone's stories. "And look at you, grabbing the bull by the horns." Several moments passed between them like that, Alastor simply allowing Seraphina to hold his paw and surmount the shock she seemed to be in from touching him. Her paw was warm against his, and as much as he wanted to scoop her up in a tight embrace, he would take matters slowly. Maybe one day she would open up to physical affection—or maybe not, and that was fine as well. "All right, Sera, let's get you to your new home!" he said after some time had passed, slowly shuffling his way backwards out of the tree so he could stand up properly again. "Any things you have, gather them up. I can carry some things as well, if you need a paw."


"Alastor"