Blackbeak Bluff bon temps

Deep down, perhaps some part of her expected—wanted—to strike fear into the beast with the mere mention of her roots. It was the one part of her life that made sense, the one thing that she knew she would always believe, and she relied on it to protect her. But words were just that—words. Without any evidence or actions to back them up, what could she expect other than what she was given? There was no fear in the man’s eyes but, undoubtedly, it was lurking within her own.

Kaori took an unconscious step back, gaze never leaving him. His tone of voice sparked something within her, her brain screaming run though her legs refused to listen. “She’s—she is…” Not here. She couldn’t finish her sentence—she couldn’t let her lonely status reach his ears, fearing that it would confirm them; she was alone, she had no one looking out for her, and she had not the skills that she should have acquired before leaving the tribe. But she hadn’t considered this beforehand, she’d only thought about how Airi had left them all behind and survived—surely the middle child could do the same.

The reality of the matter: she could not. And as facts slowly began to dawn on her, the girl made for a slow and cautious getaway.