Stir the coals

Her breath stopped as he loomed dangerous over her. Her ear twitching at his whispers. Gone was the patient teacher and soothing voice. The kiss to the side of her head felt like a brand set to run through her body and set her to blooming.

Her trembling breath escaped through her nose, his dangerous Warlord mastering tone in full effect as he warned her about how she didn't answer his question.

Her golden gaze was transfixed by the ocean. The waves rolling in and out, a bird soaring over the white seafoam. Her breath ran out with the water and carefully came back in deep and forceful as the waves dared to touch her toes.

Should he fight for that right? Would she fight for her own right? Her leg twitched, her tail tensed to coil tightly against her body. Her breath shook, rattled against her ribs as her core thrummed with panic.

"Mnmnn mmmn-" she tried to push her answer through her lips locked tightly. Everything in her body screamed and screamed and screamed about the danger such an answer would be, it shouted to stay little, stay quiet. Survive survive survive!

She stood, her legs shakey and daring to collapse with the pressure to shift her motives.

She lifted her head and... Her eyes could only meet his chest. "yes." She tried. It was quiet. Barely audible. It took everything in her to utter such pure defiance.