Wapun Meadow open my chest and color my spine

Startled the woman jumped from her prone position, and looked ready to dart. Siarut retreated a few steps, his heart pounding. He was expecting such a sudden movement, and his gaze darted around looking for unseen dangers. Was it a trap? What happened? Slowly he realized the fear in her gaze, and understood what had frightened her.

Dipping his head and making himself look smaller, Siarut kept his keen gaze on her incase she decided to attack. He was weary of fearful women, no matter how young. “I had no intention of startling you.” He spoke only as loud as was necessary, drowning out the taunting voices in his mind as they tormented him with this setback. It had been some time since any were outright fearful of him. It was a reputation he used to seek, often thought of as the muscle within his family. Now though, the broken man preferred to hide away and avoid conflict wherever possible.