The countered inquiry of his well being made him pause. He pondered for a moment whether or not confession his loneliness would do him any good. He'd faltered in the company of Amekaze already; the thought of how pitiful he must've looked to her made him groan and flop in mortified angst some nights. Ax was not one to dwell on his misgivings...and neither was he one to openly (and continuously) whine. The perfect shine of the lone femmes eyes, so keen on the chance of crossing courses with him, abstained the little tickle of truth that started its way up his throat.
"I've been alright!" he answered with a quickness that betrayed him having mulled over the reply he'd originally intended. A laugh fell briefly between them and he reached out to gently brush his snout against her shoulder. It was a confusing hybrid between both nudge and rub though he did not allow it to linger in honor of Xi'nuata's personal space. The Plateauer drew back and gave his head a quizzical tilt. "You smell like the mountains!" he remarked as if he couldn't believe someone of the slopes would voluntarily be found at his current altitude.
set by Emy