All I See is You

Life has been strange since the pirates had raided the Armada. The hardened warriors of the Armada had been so certain in their skills that they had had no doubts that they would win. In the end, they had failed to defend their homelands and the bitter sting of defeat that was left had made them all irritable. It had shaken everyone to their very core and the failure is felt even more keenly by Keahi. During the botched raid, the red woman had lost her fight against a large, mottled man and, to add insult to injury, her short-comings as a warrior are now permanently etched into her face.

On her right cheek, the pirate had gifted her several jagged wounds that, even after they had been stitched up, have left behind a series of scars. Yet, that isn’t the worst part of it all. No, the red woman has noticed the way Ruga hesitates to touch the healed wounds. That fact alone hurts worse than when she had received the wounds and she has been finding reasons to avoid the large man. If it was any other wolf, Keahi wouldn’t have given them a second thought since she does not care what others think of her. However, Ruga is different. The man has slipped into her heart and, in her darkest time, she has found tenderness and understanding with him.

Since the first time they meet, Keahi has found that being with Ruga makes her want to be a better wolf, to do better at everything she tries. She has even found herself going out of her way to make their moments together more enjoy with simple things like bath oils. Now, the red woman avoids him because, when he hesitates with his touch or avoids talking about the scars, she finds herself feeling… ugly. She does not blame him; knowingly all too well just how horrible the puckered skin looks since, every time she looks into the still waters of the baths, she is reminded of it. Oh, how she has come to loath the sight of her own reflection.

That is why she leaves every chance she can, takes every patrol that needs to be done because, if she is busy, she doesn’t have to face Ruga and her own feelings of inadequacy. Today, red paws slowly plod along the familiar patrol paths of the forest, keeping alert for danger while trying to ignore the aching of her heart. The sound of pawsteps reach her ears and she turns her head to see who is has decided to join her on her patrol. To her surprise, and apprehension, the large form of Ruga greets her ocean blue gaze and Keahi quickly turns back around. She pushes down the burning sensation that threatens to make tears form in her eyes as he easily falls into step with her.

Casting a glance toward him, she catches the lopsided smile on his lips and, despite the hurt that swells in her chest, Keahi cannot stpop the smile that tugs at the corners of her lips. Ruga speaks and her steps falter for a moment, uncertain of how to answer. It is true that she has been avoiding him but her reasoning has been valid in her mind. She cannot stand to think that he finds her ugly so she does not give him the chance to think it. Even as she thinks about it now, the woman knows how stupid that sounds so, clearing her throat, she says, “Well… there is something I have been meaning to talk to you about but, uh, it is kind of difficult.” Her words are hesitant, worry lacing them as she speaks.

Sighing, she tries to think of how to proceed with the topic of, ‘do you think I am ugly’ without seeming so… shallow.


"Keahi Mogotsi"