Bitterroot Valley A Strange Kindness

twitch huffed out a quiet laugh at his confidence, but she didn’t slow, didn’t spare him more than a sideways. “no?” she blinks up at him to watch him shake his head in confirmation. perhaps the theory had merit, because she does not insist this time. he takes the opportunity to argue his own capabilities. twitch scoffs in the face of it, but her smile is genuine, “yeah, s’ that big head a’ yours,” she counters.

truth was, the image flashed uninvited through her head—or rather, the feeling of it. his teeth around her scruff, pushing—uh, what the fuck. she is mortified, briefly, but she shoves it away so fast she nearly missed a root underpaw.

she covered the stumble with a quick shake of her pelt, angling a glare up at him as if he had caused it. perhaps he did. worse yet, he was close—too close—and she could feel the heat coming off him every time his fur brushed hers. it kept happening every few steps, enough that she suspected he was doing it on purpose.

“something you wanna tell me, cal, or did you jus’ miss me?” she mused, ears flicking back then forward again. twitch was no stranger to proximity; there were few things she found more comfort in, and still this was different. warmer, more intent behind it. she felt it sitting low in her belly, humming like a bad idea she’d absolutely entertain.