Moonspear like a lost puppy

She reminded him of their intent to stick together, just a couple of misfits. Talis’s mouth dropped open. To tell the truth, he’d lumped her in with the rest of The Tribe when he’d left. Looking at her, hearing what she had to say, he realized he’d made an enormous mistake.

You know I know how you feel, he said, barely above a whisper. I’m sorry, Kusuma, he added, ears flattening. There was a fight and I got hurt… Talis’s voice trailed off as he decided it didn’t matter.

When she whined, he shuffled closer to sniff noses. He slid his snout a little further, her whiskers tickling his nostrils as he huffed a warm breath against her muzzle. Talisman nudged her, then stepped back, eyes catching hers as she questioned whether she might be accepted here.

I don’t know, he admitted. I’ve really only met @Alaric. He saved my life. He’s been looking after me, helping me fight this infection. I’ve been sort of out of it most of the time. Talis paused, then added more hopefully, We can call for him, if you want? He’s a leader here, so you can ask him about staying.

Did she really want to stay here? With him? Talis was touched, though mostly he felt guilty for leaving her behind without a thought. He’d been wrong. He reached out to brush their snouts again, crooning an apologetic and hopefully comforting note.