Bearclaw Valley in the end i danced with a ghost

twitch bristled, though it wasn’t obvious. no sharp snap of her teeth, no lash of her tail—just a stiffening at the base of her skull, a flicker of something vaguely uncomfortable that she swallowed down with a click of her teeth.

her gaze skimming past her, then back again. "no," she muttered finally, observing the lift of her chin, the lazy flick of her tail, light catching on the burrs and thorns that clung to her coat like she’d fought the underbrush and lost.

her ears twitched at the challenge in her voice. she’d been ready to just let this be, to gently steer the girl away from the vale and encourage her to move along, but now, her paws are rooted to the earth, something stubborn prickling beneath her skin.

"probably not," a breath, long enough for her to huff with the start of a laugh, a slow creeping smile across her features, "i've heard it makes people uncomfortable. unless you want me to, i guess."