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When Alaine returned her gaze, Tayui felt much calmer. For a moment, she had panicked that this was inappropriate, given that they had just met. Not morally inappropriate, just… strange. After all, Tayui’s morals were proving to be questionable at best: while she felt nothing was wrong with having sex with a stranger, something made her wonder if she was invading some sort of privacy like this. But Alaine reassured her that this was alright and the small smile warmed Tayui’s heart. The kindness of a stranger would do that to you. Tayui could only hope they would not remain strangers: she would enjoy meeting this collie woman again. Eventually, the two began to journey farther east to the forest’s edge. When the trees began to this and give way to the human remains, they paused for a moment. Alaine let go of her hand and the absence of warmth was immediately apparent. But now, she felt another kind of warmth: from Alaine’s gaze. She watched Tayui as she considered her circumstances. She had just met someone selfless enough to help a stranger in need, and now, Tayui felt a little more whole again. Spending her days alone in her den would not help her heal: speaking to those who loved her and might one day love her would. Speaking to strangers and friends; anything to pass the time.
Tayui felt her eyes begin to well again, overcome with a complex medley of emotions. She didn’t know what to do. And when Alaine spoke and offered her her home, she felt the tears begin to flow again. This time, her sad tears were mixed with happier ones; what a relief. She was so relieved. She shook her head, grinning now, in the midst of crying.
“Thank you, so much,” she replied. “You are welcome in AniWaya, too,” she added. She reached out to squeeze the other woman’s hand one last time before she headed back to her pack. She would journey through the forest again, but this time, with a little more hope.