Word Count → 395 :: Out of Character text
He spoke more, but she heard nothing of his words; only the voice, which brushed against her ears, its tone never shifting in emotion. "How odd," she thought, and lifted her gaze again, clenching her fists slowly. The moon nearly caught her again, but Aljan had seem the man's shifting stance, and flew like a bird's shadow across the ground, leaping and then catching his claws on Tola's pants. He scaled her back, coming to a rest on her shoulder, and the sudden weight combined with the nick of Aljan's claws snapped Tola out of her unorthodox state.
"Get away from her. Go away!" Aljan hissed, his hackles rising and a growl rumbling in his feline throat. Tola turned her head, eyeing the male who seemed to have come up on her while she was "away." He had thick fur, obviously made for the colder weather--but not, it seemed, for the icy rain--and he seemed to be on edge. Tola's own shivers now wracked her body, truly setting in, and she bared her teeth at him, backing away on trembling legs. Aljan continued hissing and spitting at him, leaning as far off Tola's shoulder as he dared to swipe paws at the male, though of course he wasn't close enough for Aljan to take a flying leap at his face.
Tola backed up a bit more, and wobbled, nearly dropping to one knee. Her teeth chattered, and she couldn't help but think of how stupid she was, getting caught moonstruck in the rain. She locked her knees, and then glanced at the smaller male, her lips curling back. She thought he'd said something about shelter; he'd wanted her shelter? Or permission to shelter with her? Her thoughts ran together, and she blinked and shook her head a bit once more. Aljan huddled against her neck, his ears pressed flat. "It's cold," He whined, "And wet. Let's go inside." He nudged his head against her jaw, but Tola was more concerned with the male who'd caught her alone in the wilderness.
"Who are you?" Her voice trembled a little with her chattering teeth, but it was firm, and her hands dropped to her sides, where her daggers could be seen strapped to each thigh. His home-made stone was nothing against her cold steel; if he proved hostile, she wouldn't hesitate to kill him.
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