Broken Boulder daddy's ghost behind you,

the words that left her tongue were unfamiliar, although melodic. pretty little thing with an even prettier voice. a chuckled rumbled in his chest as he sat up just a bit straighter, as if bolstered by her curious enthusiasm. he couldn't understand what made her so excited to meet a stranger, no less a strange man—naivety? loneliness?

for all she knew, he could've overwhelmed her, sank teeth into that plush fur. held her down while he crushed bone. he had to remind himself that he wasn't that kind of man anymore. "mm." a deep rumble. dainty, pretty women like her never faired well on their lonesome. not where he was from, anyway. "ain't such a good idea to be out here on your own, darlin'. folk ain't always so friendly."

it wasn't a threat, but a warning. from a man who once was the type to be afraid of.

dolce liked her boldness. she pranced around him, hardly taller than the snow that lay in thick blankets. examining him, sizing him up, maybe. it made him chuckle. head tilted as she came back around to sit before him, his dark eyes were curious. the name she'd called him—he didn't understand it. 

"name's dolce. what's yours, little lady?"