Stavanger Bay hands getting cold

she had scented him. she had, really. still, at his bark, the delicate pearl gave a slight flinch, but the fur along her hackles only barely raised, and she smoothed them out much faster as she turned to see the broad figure of ford approached her. her expression, stern, relaxed then, falling into a more dalia softness, a smile caressing her thin face. "ford," she chirped, happy to see the man now-- she hadn't seen him in so long. his absence in her life had worried her-- did he think she was soiled? useless? weak? what did he think? she wished she knew. admittedly, she worried too much about it. but, seeing him now brought a slew of new questions. silently, she wondered if he brought news of the man-- if he'd found anyone that matched her description of him. she would sleep better at night knowing that justice had been served. 

"how are you?" she asked instead, not finding the boldness within her to ask him any of the questions she actually had.