The past is maggot written

Walk | Talk | Think

She had not been expecting much. Maybe just a cordial greeting, small talk about nothing in particular, maybe even a few discreet glances made at her eye and, if the wolf was of the bold sort, a question about it. A part of her was ready to bristle at the thought but custom dictated that she should not. Even if she had a right to lose her temper she was not supposed to, though she supposed exceptions could be made to any rule. What she had not prepared for was the look of unexpected surprise that crossed the male's face. For a second she wondered whether she should have recognized him, how it might have been that he should show any sort of recognition for her, but nothing came to mind.

Whether he did know her from somewhere or not, he continued with what manners stated he should do. He smiled, perhaps a little more friendly than she would have expected, as if they might have known one another already, and confirmed what she had assumed in her greeting. He was an Ebony wolf, Hajime, and while he was nothing but polite she could not help but feel slightly affronted by his inquiry. She blinked, her clear and scarred eyes averting themselves to stare downward in a moment while she soothed her easily offended vanity. Surely he had not meant anything by it; she was simply being sensitive.

"As well as can be," she answered, her tone short and her voice tight with restraint, "all things considered. I should hope you are doing better?"