Moonspear The recent expansion of the forbidden dog park

Where Moriko went next was deep, unbeknownst to her, and cut right to the heart of him. Dragomir tried to be kind on the outside mostly to drown out the suspicion and hurt that forever followed him. His kidnapping and subsequent injuries had buried him in fear and darkness. His mother's abandonment when he needed her most had cut him to the bone. His father's death was a constant source of grief. His sister, a constant source of worry. All of these things threatened to make Dragomir jaded and distrustful, the same angsty youth Moriko was glad he wasn't... but he didn't want to be that way, and so he fought it by working hard and attempting to remain kind and open.

But when it came to loving himself, and being kind to himself, that was harder. There was always a voice in the back of his head trying to persuade him that he was worthless. That his mother left because he was nothing but a burden. That his father died because he was weak and pathetic. That his sister left because she was tired of looking after him. That Hydra and Arcturus and Dirge only tolerated him because they must. That Mahler never came looking for him because he'd never truly wanted to bring Drago back to Diaspora for the winter. There was a devil on his shoulder always trying to make him paranoid, and so it was difficult for Dragomir to be kind to himself, because on some level, he hated himself for everything that ever happened.

He realized he'd been silent for a while, longer than was typical, and he cleared his throat. He didn't have a response for Moriko's compliments and suggestions and would've stood there awkwardly if not for the change of subject, which he appreciated immensely. Snackcess, he blurted before he could stop himself, followed by an upward twitch of his lips. It wasn't that funny. Don't laugh at yourself like a loser, said the voice, and Dragomir squashed it down.

Do you wanna still look for some? I like hunting, he said, by way of explanation.