Swiftcurrent Creek if you spent your whole life working

He crooned back her name.

Softly, carefully, her tail waved. Crouched as she was to make herself small before him. She did not need courting, love, cherishing. She did not fool herself into thinking she was worth those things. Nor did she think she'd find them this year. Same as all the years prior.

Tentatively, she inched a bit closer to him. Prepared to dodge should he not welcome her.