welcome home, little bird

Calliope tried not to think of what the touch of her nose did to herself or Finch. She tried not to look too deeply at the girls' dazed features. Or acknowledge the electricity that zapped between them. Did Finch... find the touch comforting? Is that not what wolves do when someone is upset or scared? Was she doing this wrong? Uncertainty lances over her expression as her ears turn sideways for a moment. Scorning herself for being so foolish, she purposefully scoots her nose away an inch or so, planted firmly on her paws.

A huff sharply exhales from her nostrils at Finch's little outburst. Even a small smirk curls her pale lips. She was trying not to look at Finch, but she can't help it now. Her head rises, eyes turning back to the girl curled neatly at her side. "Silly little bird," Calliope coos, drawing her muzzle within centimeters of the Finch's muzzle. "You only perceive me to fear nothing, but it would be foolish of you to not fear me," the harsh Calliope returns for a moment. Her heart was ablaze and emotions were roiling beneath her skin. Deep down, she knows it's a weakness, but to know that someone doesn't fear her also scares her. Letting anyone in was a no-go.

At the sight of Finch licking her lips to disperse the tension, Calliope relaxes. Another huff expels, but softer this time as she pulls away and places her chin back upon her paws. She can't help the confusion that comes with being so close to Finch and interacting with her. Especially as Finch carries on, talking about sickness and survival and the uncertainty of their futures. When she stammers, Calliope's ears perk. Was her little bird growing brave? Both brows raise, impressed as Finch requests help and stories of her life. Adventures. Oh, did she have plenty of those.

Tilting her head to look back at Finch, she smiles. A genuine one this time as she nods to let Finch know she agrees. "When I was but a mere pup, roughly six months old, my siblings, Tarnish and Suduri, and I were out adventuring through the archipelago. On one of the islands, we came across a rogue adult male who was anything but nice. He saw us as food and we saw him as danger. It was probably the first time that I ever felt scared, but seeing my siblings in trouble made me forget about it. I knew I had to do something. We called for our father, but it would take him time to cross the water. So to save ourselves, we gave that mongrel everything we had. Even ended up hiding in the roots of a mangrove as he tore at the roots and swiped at us until our father appeared. It felt like ages, staring at that frenzied wolf attempting to kill us. If our father hadn't shown up, we would've been food, but he did. He ripped that wolf to shreds right in front of our eyes and then told us to take a trophy afterward. See that tooth right there? That's one of his canines."

She nods her nose toward a little shelf made from rotted wood that holds a variety of trinkets. One such tooth glistened in the evening light. "When I ripped it from his mouth and smiled at my father, I knew from then on I would never let anyone take advantage of me or decide my fate. I will die when I want to die." her lips settle into a firm line as she finishes her story. No glory, no satisfaction, just the truth. Was Finch impressed? Glancing at her little bird, she wonders if only for a moment if that would make her happy to know that Finch found her admirable.

"Speech"