Phantom Hollow [M] Fire up the night

“I’ll be nearby,” turned out to be a big, fat lie.

He couldn’t stop thinking about how childlike @Kusuma had seemed in her vulnerability. And no matter how far down the mountain he went, he swore he could still smell her. It put thoughts into his head that squicked him out badly enough that he made a beeline straight out of the territory.

He didn’t stop until he came to the bend of a small river. Talisman bent down to lap greedily at the water. He could feel his heart thudding from the exertion of his hasty exit. He wondered if he ought to stay away for a few days, lest he be seduced by temptation. Talis wanted children, badly, but not enough to take advantage of someone.

The pale coyote shuddered and stood up straight, peering around at his surroundings. He tipped his muzzle into the air, unaware that he was downstream but upwind of yet another siren.