Xi’nuata did not fancy herself a vain sort of creature, though in comments to her appearance she believed she gave as much care as any other might have. If not a bit less. She felt the warmth of the compliment in regard to her present state even though she was aware she was anything but presentable. Had he commented on her size, how she had notable grown wider since last they crossed paths, she would have smiled all the more and felt wholly complete. She adored her large size while others might have prodded at her for it. A large, plump beast was a healthy beast in her eyes, and the more she returned to her original weight and was noticed for it, the happier she would have been.
But her steady progress would do for the time being.
“I do thank you,” the genuine smile brightened her lips. “However I am not as fat as I would like to be.” But there was time to change that. Her eyes shimmered excitedly as she awaited reply from her companion, her eager paws flexing through the soft snow to grab hold of the earth in wait, then release it when at last he spoke laughter. Her tail swayed pleasantly. She received him openly when he drew near, allowing the soft nudge to her shoulder followed by a light pat of a similar likeness in turn to his cheek. He smelled strongly of the plateau, but not as drenched as one that frolicked through the woodlands on the regular. His was an adventurer’s scent; a scout’s scent. Heavy with the musk of the pack but also of the wild. The fine balance teetering toward one end or the other but never truly settling for long. She would not have thought he traveled at length. It was similar to her own scent, though instead of the fragrance of the pack laden in, there was the culmination of many lands explored. No one dominating the other, but strangely harmonious. Though there was one scent that rose above the others.
“Indeed,” she smiled whilst her tail swept gaily. “I was born upon the mountain and have only ever lived within the mountains. It was natural that I return to their familiar grace and haunt their paths and passages.” And though she was personally content with her reasoning, she could not help but feel bothered that it might not garner approval from her companion. Her smiled waned slightly as her muzzle tipped in question. “Is… that strange?” |