The Heartwood i'm not a complete wretch, i fetch

He held firm to the spot as she worked on his wound, and when he flinched he gave a small rumble of warning or pulled his tail closer than before - but he did not strike at her. Slowly coming to the conclusion that the woman had a use, and was not harming him, made things easier.

The rumbles in his chest continued but became quieter, crackling only when the sting of her attention spiked through him. Whenever she was finished with one task or another and he was given a brief reprieve, Drusk would steal bold looks from the corner of his eye.