Winter's Bone

Mariah watched as Cerberus made himself comfortable beside her, his large frame radiating warmth that cut through the chill in the air. She noticed his tail stretching out towards her, a silent offer of comfort. Yet, he was careful not to physically touch her, a gesture she appreciated and understood as respect for her personal space. His actions were comforting and sincere without being intrusive. Cerberus was a gentleman, and she admired him for it. The cold wind swept through again, nipping at her nose and ears. Mariah shifted slightly closer to the heat radiating from Cerberus. She was careful not to touch him, but his proximity was comforting enough to lessen the bite of the wind. Her silver eyes focused on the snowy landscape, the setting sun casting long shadows that danced around them.

Heaving a soft sigh, Mariah turned her gaze from the snow-covered trees to Cerberus. She noted the lines of worry etched on his face, a stark contrast to his warm grin earlier. His words about depending on what happens in the next few days didn't go unnoticed. She perceived that there was something bothering him- perhaps about the siblings he mentioned. “Well, I would like it if you went with us.” She said lightly, pausing slightly as she carefully chose her next words. "But if there are things you need to sort out, I understand." Of course, he was a grown man- perfectly capable of making his own decisions.

But as he offered his own dismissal, why did she want to insist that he stay? Just as she opened her mouth, ready to insist he stayed for a while longer, she hesitated. Why was she doing this? Mariah reflected inwardly, her silver eyes staring into the distance, absently focused on the snowflakes landing on Cerberus' thick fur. “You don’t have to stay.” She finally answered- not that she was asking him to leave, or dismissing him. But also not asking him to stay if he didn’t want to.

"Mariah Mendacium"