Will we ever be the same as we once were?

Kiyo hadn’t expected anyone to join her in the Springs that evening, and a part of her had hoped that she would be alone, but the sound of footsteps dashed those thoughts quickly. The pattern of the steps sounded familiar, however, like there was one missing entirely. Then, the three-legged wonder himself emerged from the forest and hobbled over to her pool, wisely of course. She had, after all, picked the one that had felt like it would be the safest.

He asked if he could join her, seeming to be ever the gentleman, and she squinted at him, more playful than actually suspicious. Her warm silver gaze looked him over, her submerged body shifting so she could inspect his body from all angles. “Well, you don’t seem to be growing anything you shouldn’t, or spewing odd liquids, so I suppose you may,” she said, sitting back into a comfortable position once again. “I realized that I never got your name last time. I am not the type of woman to snuggle up to just any wolf, you see, but you caught me in a bit of a...situation.” Kiyo tried not to wince in memory of losing her antlers. They were still in her room in the palace, wrapped preciously and stowed in a corner until she could figure out what to do with them. Until then, they mocked her.