Ouroboros Spine vii. for each others' warmth

The dove inclined her head, rueful to think that she might have kept him longer than he meant to stay. "Apologies, I didn't mean to talk your ears off," she chuckled lightly as she said it. "May brother sun smile on your hunt," the yearling murmured the blessing softly, almost beneath her breath, as she turned a smile in the spiritbear's direction.

"I will," she promised softly but truthfully, the deerstalker didn't know what she would do if Raimo scared her again. Or if he tried to form some strange, secret alliance again. The artisan watched the pale woodlander disappear into the woods, turbulent thoughts brewing around the subject of the two men for some time even after he'd gone. She hoped desperately that she could avoid becoming involved but feared that she may have already immersed herself by warning Adrastus.

At last, with a deep sigh designed to expel the tension knotted betwixt her shoulder blades, the painter turned her attention back to her art -- trying to forget all about it.