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Vesper flattened her ears and took a step back when the white-furred woman flinched and turned to face her; she was obviously afraid and likely expecting an attack, though the tawny luperci kept her posture nonthreatening, her tail even wagging slightly to reassure her. Now that she could look at the other’s narrow muzzle and other features, she recognized her as a hybrid like herself. Her lips turned up slightly, more smile than smirk this time, though it became a worthless expression when she noted the darkness in her beautiful blue eyes. The woman had already carried herself in a sad way, standing and watching the ocean, but she looked absolutely pathetic now. It was more emotional pain than Vesper had ever seen, and for a second she wanted to run away.
But she stood firm, expression sharp with concern as the other breathed erratically and at last spoke. She murmured that she’d never been okay, and again Vesper lowered her ears and looked down at her hands, feeling useless. She’d wanted to help somehow, but someone as desolate as this was beyond mere words. The Tirones was too cold, too hard, too detached from people to be able to make this stranger feel any warmer.
The compliment came as a surprise, and without really knowing it, Vesper smiled and whispered, “Not as pretty as you.” And she was, with her snowy fur, her long body, even her scars though they spoke of an ugly past. Her beauty was a sad beauty, like a lovely story that just couldn’t have a happy ending. Swallowing, Ves came slightly closer, lifting a hand slowly and gingerly. She meant to touch her arm or shoulder, though she would pull back immediately if the other coywolf backed away or showed any signs of fear.
“My name is Vesper,” the tawny woman said quietly. “What’s your name? Do you have a home to go to?”
She wasn’t sure if someone was out looking for this girl, though she didn’t know what she’d do if she had no one. Ves wouldn’t want to leave her here on the beach, but she couldn’t exactly drag her back to Inferni—or she perhaps could, since she had coyote blood. But that was a commitment she didn’t think she was willing to mate in a matter of minutes after meeting the poor stranger.
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