trip to the vet

the boy is startled from his itching by a strange voice, who calls out for him and freezes him in his tracks. turning to the newcomer, Ume is met by a pair of mismatched eyes in a strangely marked face, split down the middle in two differing extremes. that bright yellow gaze tracks over her, wide and unblinking as though he's looking right through her. "confliction," he murmurs, voice dazed as he stumbles forward a step. should the girl remain still, he begins to walk a slow circuit around her, entranced by the opportunity to examine a complete stranger. "half and half. broken?" his brow scrunches, head tilting to the side in focus. "hmm...perhaps not. but uneven. mismatched." his gaze lifts back to her face, and satisfaction lies there, like he's uncovered some hidden depth. a truth to her that no one else can see. it's only now, his curiosity momentarily sated, that he seems to register what she'd asked. "Umeshu," he says, apropos of nothing. it doesn't occur to him to specify he's just divulged his name, or even ask for hers in exchange. instead, his head snaps around and he sinks his teeth into his scruff, growling lowly as that persistent itching flares up with near-unbearable vigour. "itches," he murmurs into his fur, the word muffled. well, she'd asked if he was okay, hadn't she?

WC: 227
Total: 757/1500