Noctisardor Bypass in the moonlight

stop. she doesn't. not until the thundering of his steps increased in volume.

there is a swell of confused frustration visible in the abrupt halt of her strides. he'd cut her off yet again, and this time she met his disrupted figure with a faint, uneasy twitch of her tail.

still, she holds his gaze with a mixture of discomfort and skepticism. she'd like to believe he hadn't meant to insult her, but she doesn't.

"you didn't appear to want my company earlier. you don't have to pretend to want it now," came the sharp, restless voice of her words.

her muscles instinctively tensed along her shoulder blades in preparation for any physical or verbal retaliation. and in the next moment she challenged further, aiming to jostle past him and continue on her new-cut path.