Sunbeam Lair singulus

Giving a soft hum in response, she ducked past him, brushing past a stone wall and allowing the coolness of the rock to soothe her flustered mind. She needed to regroup.

When she tilted her muzzle back, she studied the somber expression of the stoical man, a brow arching before she beckoned him, wondering if he would follow. “You know, Imperator,” she began, deciding that she had already made a fool of herself—what was another moment more?

“Perhaps it was the way the shadows moved over you when I first saw you, but… I’ve learned, over the years, that the grief we face can become a burden on us… Physically, as well as emotionally. Sometimes, it’s better to voice those emotions and sometimes it’s easier to do so with someone who’s a complete stranger.”

She paused for a moment, one paw in the air, eyes soft as they studied him. “Or we can continue with the easy chatter, maybe some banter, and I can remain the random healer you bumped into from Epoch one day. It’s up to you—you’ll find I’m pretty laid back, whatever you choose.” And so she began to walk again, copper muzzle trailing lower now, scenting at a cluster of mushrooms.