Sun Mote Copse and my whole earth shook

She heaves a long-suffering sigh and his ears slick back. Before he can decide what exactly to make of that, she nudges him. Vermouth blinks at the mixed signals, his eyes slowly narrowing. As her attention drifts away from him, so does the last vestiges of delectation stirred by her behavior moments ago.

He says nothing for several minutes, sinking deep into his thoughts now that his head feels screwed on straight again. The knit in his brow deepens along with the frown slashing his mouth. Vermouth isn’t bothered about Keshi, though what if Vixen tries to pull the same stunt if and when he manages to find a kvit woman to woo?

“I’m going,” says Vermouth suddenly, loudly. “Don’t follow me.”

He doubts she’ll heed him, though he’ll do whatever it takes to shake her. Vermouth shoots Vixen a pinched look and swings away, loping down the hillock and then veering south. As soon as his swarthy paws strike even ground, he breaks into a sprint. He does not look back.