Redsand Canyon And all I want is a little hope

renard had no idea what thoughts were leading him. this was not a refusal to put all your cards on the table – they could have understood that.

it didn’t matter whether derg wanted to be in charge or not. he was.

and yet he raised his tail and growled when their jaws slammed closed over his muzzle, prepared to defend a position he admitted he was not ready for.

their teeth squeezed until they were moments away from breaking the skin, and then withdrew. satisfied, renard turned their back to him with pointed disinterest and stepped away until they had reached the edge of the water again, turning only once they stood against the shore.

“and you sit under a waterfall and wait?” there was no anger – just something snakelike, curious and probing. “what are you hoping for, admitting that to me?” their voice softened into amusement. “do you think it’ll make me sympathetic? mistakes are mistakes. it doesn’t matter if you know you’re going to make them.”