Fox's Glade silvertongue

she held still as he performed his own examination of her -- in many ways the behavior was ritualistic, and it put indra at ease to see another -- even one who was not fully wolf -- uphold wild custom. her gaze trailed to his swaying tail -- it was thin and ropey and not at all like hers, but for a moment she envied him for it.

her doubts he might have only been lying were abolished as he spoke: in a way, it was similar to what corinna had said. indra lifted her muzzle slightly as she considered that she looked fierce. perhaps losing her tail had some good in it after all.

she was still taken aback by the compliment he doled out -- and he did so without guile, it appeared. she was unused to such customs and in a way the male struck her as exotic. "thanks." she answered at length, affirming her gratitude with a slight dip of her muzzle. "i'm indra. what is your name and... why are you so nice?"

perhaps it was too direct a question, but the girl had learned one sorry thing about the world: everyone had motives. in her eyes it was better to learn his now rather than find out the hard way.