book 4: drinks for two

Gil can see her small form from down the beach. Though shadowed by the flicker of fire light, he can tell its her. The way her gait is slightly off, her small stature, how her scent is just barely carried to him on the breeze. He doesn't move though. He can smell the salty water and it nearly burns his nose as she approaches. Had she gone for a swim? The notes of grime clinging to the edges of her fur solidifies his guess that she was washing off whatever muck lingered at the bottom of the concrete pools out back.

He returns her smile as she steps closer and asks if there is space for her. There is always space for her. At least now there is. He makes sure there is. "Of course," his rumbling tones are slightly garbled by the obvious note that he had been drinking rather heavily. Lifting a paw to wave it in her direction, he beckons her closer so that she can begin to dry off by the fire. Reaching for a bottle nearby, he rolls it in her direction and nods to it, essentially telling her to drink.

"How was your day?" Gil asks out of earnest curiosity and also... something protective. While he was busy with his own duties, he had not seen her since sunrise. Though Erish had confirmed she hadn't left the isle, he hadn't kept a full eye on her the entire time. A little bit of a leash for now at least to see how much he could trust the girl. Taking another swig of his booze, he awaits her response.