Keep Climbing

Walk | Talk | Think

He did not get angry at her tone, nor did he seem entirely off put by it. Rather he seemed to accept it willingly and without question, not even bothering to pester her as a kindly smile split across his muzzle and entered his gaze. Yin could hardly grasp how she ought to react. On one hand, she was irritated. How could he manage to have such patience when she had done nothing so far to earn it, when she herself was constantly on the verge of snapping at someone who invaded her space, asked the wrong question, dared to get in her way? Envy radiated through her in the form of misplaced frustration, dark tail giving an agitated twitch as she willed the elder wolf to show at least a small pull of his brow, a quirk of his lips, to indicate that she had irked him at least a little. This was not fair. He was just like--

Just like Yang. The realization came as quite a shock to the desperate girl, the loneliness she had been doing her best to hold at bay sweeping over her in a sudden wave. He was just like Yang. It was always only ever him who never grew upset or angry with her and her short-fused temperament, the only one to reach toward her in kindness no matter what it was that she did or said. He had been her rock, her saving grace, and he was gone. Just a little she hated this wolf for his likeness to her twin, for making her realize just how much she missed him and needed his compassion and gentleness.

Her expression had darkened, the frown about her face deepening with an unwanted emotional undercurrent. Hyperion was nothing but polite as he assured her he would leave if it would have suited her better, understanding and not the least bit disappointed. She said nothing, not quite trusting herself but also just waiting for him to depart as he seemed to have picked up on from her tone and behavior. But he did not move to depart. Instead he offered her a listening ear, something that had never been offered to her in such a long time. Since I lost Yang.

Did she want to talk about it? No. Burying everything behind her facade of indifference and disdain was so much easier, so much simpler than trying to wade into it. She was certain if she tried she would drown. Her answer came simply, lowly, not quite unfriendly but not overly companionable. "You remind me of my brother." Not even she was aware whether it was meant as a means to begin the conversation offered to her or if she had merely been trying to state a perceived fact. But she had felt the need to tell him. It might not have sounded like much as far as assessments went, but Yin thought very highly of her absent sibling. It was possibly one of the nicest compliments she could have given.