498 WELP... just us. XD
Ithiel is by Raze!
The dusky-hued coyote had turned away at last, trying to shove his interaction with this newest coyote from his mind. He was observing the room when the sound of footsteps drew his attention again. He prepared to have a defense ready for the Maddox coyote, when he saw it was not her but Willam. His neutral face gave no hint of his relief, but it was there beneath: Willam, at least, was an ally and a believer. Maddox would need to hold her tongue in their presence.
Ithiel looked at her with surprise, and reached out reflexively to receive the book. He ran his fingers over its cover with surprise and opened it gingerly. Scanning over the first page with the quick eyes of a practiced reader, the dust-colored coyote looked from the page to Willam, and back to the page again. He smiled, dipping his head as he gently closed the book. You copied it yourself, he said, unaware of the finery in her hand prior to seeing it in action.
For perhaps the first time, and with a palpable stab in his gut, the dust-colored hybrid considered perhaps he might be more well-matched with Willam. He sensed the Scintillan leadership would have encouraged this match rather than the one he'd made of his own volition with Alma. The vague longing he felt disgusted him, though, for disloyalty to one's mate was heinous beyond measure. Consummated as they were, the dusky-hued hybrid could not allow himself to even consider such thoughts. He guessed Willam would have suggested penance for such thoughts, too, and might have been disgusted herself. He could imagine no other reaction.
Her motion away as Maddox returned might have been taken for some as indication of just the opposite, but Ithiel was not so quick to discern the meaning of such social cues. He missed it entirely, and was instead focused on defending himself from the tawny-hued coyote he already considered brash and prone to speech above her station. Her approach, however, brought with her the scent of delicious food. The dusky-colored hybrid eyed the squarish brick with suspicion, for it looked different from anything he'd ever eaten before. It smelled of meat and spice, however. Cautiously, he selected his piece. His eyes caught Willam's quick gesture, and Ithiel repeated something akin to it -- a pause, a downcast gaze -- before he ate his allotment.
The taste goaded him into standing up straight, and he glanced toward Maddox with near suspicion in his eyes. Yes, he agreed, licking his muzzle. Thank you. She looked about ready to spew something else like she'd done before her exit, when she abruptly shrugged and smiled shyly. No big deal. What's a confessional? she asked, setting the tray aside. As soon as she had, the coyote stepped toward the planks and began measuring with her hands, shifting them and arranging them as they'd be needed.
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