For Good

The blackened woman was foreign to him, but he swore he'd seen her at the meeting. He could remember not her name, but that was no surprise to him. Heck, in a situation like this he would not be surprised if he forgot his own name. It wasn't every day the Prince had such a lofty burden to carry. The weight pressed on his shoulders, invisible but to his own eyes. Some days he was sure it might crush him. Some days he wanted it to. But other days, other days he would imagine it being chiseled away, slowly lifted from his pelt until it was no more, and life was easy again. He supposed it was foolish to think that way, as there was no one willing to take this burden from him, but it was the only thing keeping him anchored to this earth - so he couldn't give up on it yet.

Now that he'd spoken, the Prince knew it would be unbecoming to simply stride off, particularly without even getting a name from the lass, or offering his own. If she was new here - which is what the boy suspected - it was his job to become acquainted with her, and offer her any assistance she might need. She too seemed lost in thought, and for a moment the boy was glad for it. Perhaps she wouldn't notice his off-kilter demeanor. Perhaps she wouldn't notice the ache in his chest.

But notice she did.

"Ah yes, forgive me. I've a lot on my mind." A lot indeed. He hoped that it might serve as some sort of excuse, even the semblance of one. But it was high time he gave his name, and his rank as was custom. "Where are my manners! I'm Maverick, Prince of Seracia." A faint smile glittered on unhinged jaws momentarily as he waved his tail and then rocked onto his dappled haunches. Allowing himself into a sitting position would certainly put her at ease, and perhaps serve to start a conversation. Gods knew he needed a distraction from his life. "I don't think I've seen you around before, are you new here?" Of course that wasn't entirely true, he had seen her at the meeting, but that had been a brief glimpse. This was by far their first actual encounter. Curiosity brimmed in lime eyes as he focused them upon her, eager to learn who she was and where she'd come from. Anything to keep his mind off of his own problems.


"Speech!"