Shadow of the Day

When Akemi moved closer and hooked a paw over his shoulders, Tyr couldn't help but flinch. No matter that she hadn't been approaching aggressively, never mind that she'd never hurt him before, but he hadn't really had positive physical contact since... well, since he'd been a pup. Before Hroovitnir had really noticed him, before he'd decided Tyr's crippled and uselessly small body was a personal affront to his manhood.

For a moment he felt like his brain had been scrambled, so confused was he by Akemi's words and demeanor. He wasn't stupid, far from it, but what she was saying... "The nature of wolves doesn't change, Akemi," he finally said, his voice harsh with suspicion and nerves. What was it she planned, behind this show of kindness and loving? Or was she really so naive as to think that a change of location magically made everything better? Maybe she was - after all, it had been merely her small stature that had set her apart from their siblings, without the added handicap of his leg and his limited hearing. She wouldn't have needed to learn the meaning behind a falsely kind word, the scheming hidden behind sympathy. She'd never been punished because someone was nice to her.

"This land isn't any safer than the old pack. The only difference is that our father is dead, and that our uncles don't care enough to track us down here!" His voice was not angry, but simply earnest, as he tried to explain to her why he was the way he was.



"Speech"

Nothing to gain, everything to fear