Noctisardor Bypass 15 Step

She tilted her head up- naturally, she didn’t believe him. His actions seemed to speak for him, she thought. Whether he was in denial or just trying to maintain an air was something she had yet to figure out. 

She glanced past him when she saw movement and in an instant, her expression changed. Etienne’s paws had been injured the last time she had seen him but now he sported fresh wounds, concerning ones. 

For a moment, he brushed against the sour boy, and in that moment, the lad leaned back- a gesture deft but gentle too. When he came toward her it was in a rush and she braced herself so that she could clasp him against her, carefully softening her limbs so she might not press in any place that was sore. 

Over Etienne’s shoulder she mouthed a single, silent word to Anselm as a reply to his earlier statement. 

”Bullshit.”

In her eyes was no trace of judgement, but the hope that he might at least start admitting to himself that he did care, at least for one wolf. 

”Oh my Eti!” She breathed softly, pulling back and looking with newfound horror at his injuries. Strangely enough, they didn’t look accidental- those were cuts, punctures…But Étienne was not the type to fight with anyone. ”What ‘appened?” She asked, her gaze flickering momentarily to Anselm and burning for a moment- not in accusation, but because he’d not said anything about Etienne being injured! 

She gently pressed her forehead against Etienne’s for a moment- wishing he could read the apologies and questions directly from her mind.