Emberwood Old Rhythm, New Beats

She could feel his gaze and it only weighed on the small woman further. It was like she could feel the pressure they were exerting, each eye ball pressing into her further by the moment. Good girl, the words felt toxic despite how kind they should have been. 

Were it any other man she possibly would have shown some teeth, told him off! She belonged to no man, not now, not ever, and she was in charge of what her future held from now on! But Takeshi, he had this way of drawing that rebellion out. To crush and kill it under his paw like he did now. Maybe it was their past, how tightly they were woven together. That history of theirs that choked any sense of self-pride out of her. 

What's been difficult? The famine, the earthquakes, the jumping from pack to pack, the attack in the field of flowers, the list went on and on! But she bit back he words, he didn't have to know. Darling, ears flattened at the word directed to her as if it were the only way she could reject such a title. 

Looking at him from under pale brows, she answered the best she could without giving too much details. Shed be defiant one way or another if she could help it! I lost the pack I was a part of... we are... re-building. Leaving the invitation out for him to join, she was certain he'd insert himself into the picture anyway. So long as those words didn't come from her, Reiko supposed she could forgive herself.