(685) oh lordy tl;dr sorry. tbh fifth paragraph is all that's needed. tl;dr -- myrika comes out of the schoolhouse superawkwardlike, then stands there and looks apprehensive. 8D
Myrika is by Bobbi!
The village was eerie quiet with the absence of most of its occupants. Only Halo, and at that presumably, remained behind. Kaena was likely off meandering the mansion or some other part of the territory; her scent rarely, if ever, strayed more than a hundred yards from the border. Oblivion and Amnesty were probably off causing some mischief somewhere -- she could hold they were practicing or studying at something, but it was a futile sort of hope.
The schoolhouse had felt almost crowded for some time -- though there was still room enough to cause an echo through the hallways at times. It was therefore unexpected to Myrika that she'd feel lonely with this peaceful and quiet time to herself. But, she was, all the same. Her head cocked to listen to the relative silence, she contemplated (and hardly for the first time) just what exactly she was doing leading Inferni. At times she was comfortable within the clan, at times she still felt the stranger she'd been a year ago. One of these two opposing and intertwined perspectives ought not sit at the head of the clan, she knew.
Although Myrika understood the fearsome position Inferni carved for itself, and that contrast to reality, she did not see why the same end could not be achieved through friendliness with one's neighbors. Why should they need to hang skulls when offering flowers might provide surer protection? Sooner or later, someone was sure to realize Inferni's fearsome reputation was not well-earned -- especially not with herself as the Aquila. Who would she ever intimidate?
These thoughts were ones she only allowed herself when alone. They were not to be shared elsewise -- they were too dangerous, too doubting. And so they fled away with the speediness of chased prey at the soft sounds of footsteps approaching. There was a pause and silence as the presence hovered near the door, and Myrika dared not move from her seat on the floor near the dead woodstove. Her tawny ears perked, thinking the stepper would soon enter -- surely it was Kaena or one of the schoolhouse's other residents returning?
The voice to hail her, though, was far too young to be the graveled voice of her grandmother, and much unlike the voices of her little cousins. The Aquila scrambled to her feet and out into the hallway. She opened the door slowly and hesitated. Should she go out? Should she invite Vesper in? She didn't know, and in the end decided it didn't matter since they both had legs and could mobilize themselves if necessary.
The redhead came out of the schoolhouse without any grace, half scrambling to exit and almost stumbling against the slightly raised doorsill. She recovered before completely ruining her exit, though, and proceeded to wince at Vesper, her ears half-mast. Hi yes, she squeaked, so quick the words were quite nearly smashed together in one word. Myri was certain Vesper was here to... what? Threaten to leave Inferni? Myri didn't think so. Threaten to break up with her? They weren't even together. Inform Myrika they were no longer on speaking terms? Their ranks required them to be on speaking terms.
The tawny coyote was suddenly aware of what a poor idea it might be to engage in such a relationship, where they might be entwined by not only their feelings, but their ranks and whole clan, too. Wasn't there a human adage about that somewhere? She could not quite recall a single relevant thing from any book, perhaps because her mind was reeling with apprehension at the Centurion's visit. She should not be so unnerved by one who was, in hierarchy, her subordinate, but she was anyway. And yet -- none had objected to this. Ezekiel had told her so frankly, and even Kaena hinted she did not mind if a relationship made Myri more likely to consider children in the end. If there was some ill thing to occur, surely it was all in her head. Both Ezekiel and Kaena were more worldly than Myri.
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