Rising Sun Valley A Stray Ember

Sumac suddenly straightened, his head tilting to one side as his ears pricked up. Oh, well, this wasn’t quite the harsh rebuke he’d anticipated, now, was it? His golden eyes brightened a bit, and his tail seemed to droop a little less. He was a tall, lanky, and overall, well, awkward fellow, rarely owning his space, but there was no mistaking the glimmer of hope that sparked behind those curious, somewhat innocent eyes.

“Oh, uhm, hi Ishara! Er, quite the pleasure to meet you. You’re a loner, too?” ‘Mac managed to reply.

Oh, wait… was “loner” offensive? Oh, dear. Sumac’s socialization up until now had primarily consisted of his family. Now that he was interacting with someone new, he found he had a bit of… anxiety. It was then that he snapped to attention, realizing he’d not yet answered her question!

“Oh! And, uhm, I’m Sumac. But my family calls-uh, called… me ‘Mac. You can, too, if you’d like.”

The corners of his lips managed to curl upward just a little, accompanied by a gentle swish of his tail.