Hushed Willows Don't be long, for the end is nigh

Oh — oh, it was cute. Alright. Maybe he understood a little. The kid got his attention, anyway, and he felt pleased to be received with so much enthusiasm. That's right. I'm cool a fuck.

Though it was overpowered by force of will and slightly stronger paternal instinct, Dusty Rose felt an undeniable prey drive when the kid started running around. If she were a little bigger, he might've tried a few snaps to see if she could dodge his teeth. As it was, intrusive thoughts of biting too hard kept his jaws firmly shut.

Instead, he stuck a paw out in her path, thoughtlessly aiming to send the kid flying ass over teakettle when she tripped. After all — teeth might be dangerous, but Dusty Rose had never suffered from falling.

Except for the cholla bur incident.

The flinch was partially in memory of all those pokey cactus spines and part jump-scare as Reverie named them again. His gaze turned back up to her with an unusual pinch to his eyes. He was trying to brush it off like he did everything else, but... well, he supposed he'd always known that kids were a touchy subject for him. As much as he would've liked to say he was over and above that trauma.

"Seems like at least two of 'em are," he replied, trying for nonchalance but finding himself too distracted both by his own turbulent thoughts and the "bundle of energy" between them.