Dahozhoni Meadow does my breath smell?

He didn’t quite know what to say after the harrowing details came out. In lieu of words, he thought to lean over slightly and slide his muzzle along the bridge of hers. They had touched one another quite a lot these past few days, though this tentative nuzzle was somehow the most intimate so far.

Before I get into it, I want you to know I wasn’t teasing you that day with Fleur. What made you think that? And, hey, he said, sitting up straighter, his eyes suddenly brightening with a touch of humor as he gently elbowed her pale ribs, what happened to me being too young for you?

He wondered where to start about his past and decided to take his cues from her. There wasn’t a lot to tell, really, but hopefully his upbringing—or lack thereof—would provide context for his present behavior. Future, too, as Cambria was sure his ingrained nature hadn’t reared its ugly head for the last time…

I was born on an island. It was just my mom and me. She only stuck around until I was old enough to look after myself. I found my own way to the mainland and began traveling and learning survival skills. I had to be quite the autodidact, he said with a huff of humorless laughter. I came to this area about a year ago. I found my way into a pack. They were a mess and eventually disbanded, which was when I swore off making attachments.

He let out a gusting breath. She’d talked about the man she’d almost mated. Cambria supposed now was time to repay her honesty with more of his own. He doubted she would be jealous, though he wondered what he’d think about his feelings for another man. Well, he’d vowed never to keep things from her.

I was a little in love with someone at the time, ah… you know him, actually. Etienne, the Dragonling revealed, unconsciously rubbing a paw along the opposite foreleg. That day, when you ran off, I actually kind of… we didn’t break up, since we were never really together. But I basically told him we could never be together.

Bittersweet emotions welled in his chest. He’d shat all over the idea of being with Etienne, only to wind up here. Maybe Cambria ought to redact his earlier words: he kind of was a total piece of shit.