Yay! I'm bacccck! 
Misseeed your awesome posts! (And Zalen of course!)
With eyes still glued to the ground, Lucia had missed the shaking head of her companion. She had briefly caught his whine, but it didn’t settle long enough in her brain to cause a reaction. Instead, she continued to stare silently at nothing. It was easier for her to do this, easier not to look at the judging eyes of the male she was beginning to feel a strange desire for. It was in that moment that Lucia decided one day she would tell Zalen of her former lover, of the coyote who haunted her mind and had indirectly forced her to carve a symbol of his existence into her flesh. She wasn’t sure when this day would be, nor if it would come soon, but it would happen. The urge to be honest with him was overpowering, and though she would undoubtedly fight it out of instinct, one day it would overpower her. One day he would know.
It was with these thoughts that Lucia’s emerald coals found their way back toward the other dark wolf. His words whistled into her ears like comforting music. Her feelings of being judged by him now floating away like they had never existed in the first place. “Thank you.” The words hollow, emotionless. She had little energy for emotion right now, her mind a racetrack of crazy thoughts and desires. Though, if he were to look into her eyes, he would see the genuine appreciation for the bizarre compliment. She was glad she was different, glad that he seemed to still want to have her around despite her foolish actions.
Listening intently as he spoke of the feathers, Lucia’s eyes travelled over them once again. They really were flattering to his appearance. He seemed more wise or something to the ebony female. She couldn’t place it completely, but she definitely knew that it was an improvement. “Ah, the burnt lands… I know them. A strangely beautiful place…” Lucia replied quietly, thinking momentarily on what she had seen there. She had passed them many times. On her way here, on her way out, and on her way back again… Their image of desolation and degradation reminded Lucia a lot of herself. They were scarred lands, burnt from the soul outward. Though there was hope. With each new blossoming plant or living creature, there was hope that the lands would recover. Lucia prayed this was the same for her. Maybe, if she was lucky, Zalen was that budding plant peering out from the ashes? She could only hope.
Wandering through her twisted mind, pondering the idea that Zalen could be that shiny new hope she needed, she almost missed the fact he was shifting. Raising an amused brow, Lucia stared silently. The cracking and stretching of his body was a sight to behold. She had rarely seen another shift in front of her, nor had she shifted in front of anyone. It wasn’t because she didn’t want to, but more that she rarely felt the need to. It was not often that she portrayed her true four-legged form. Life seemed much more enjoyable on two. There were so many more options, so much more to experience. Perhaps Zalen felt the same way? She made a note to ask him one day.
Eyes trailing after her male companion, she watched as he took a seat beside her. A small shiver trickled down her spine as his fingers moved a strand of hair from her face. She hastily dropped her gaze, unsure of how to direct the conversation. This whole ordeal confused her. She wanted hate and anger, she thrived off it. Surely that was who she was? Why didn’t she feel like that? Why didn’t she want to run away anymore? What had changed? So many questions, not a single answer… that was always the way.
Still greeting the earth with her gaze, Lucia’s mouth parted. “I’ve missed you.” She spoke quietly, timidly. She regretted the words as soon as they rolled off her tongue. It was a moment of honesty for the female, and in her mind, a moment of weakness. This really had to stop.