11-29-2018, 12:54 PM
While they were around other people, she mostly still hid in his mane, clinging tight to his hair and curling against his neck and closing her eyes ‘til they were alone again. But when it was just them, she was juuust starting to slip back into her normal shape and snuggle up as they walked again. It was a little easier after trying it with Mom, when she’d so badly wanted cuddles like when she’d been little, all curled up tight against Mom’s side. And then Mom’d coaxed her into wandering for a while, and it had helped in a so-quiet way, giving her something to focus on other than the loud, echoing numbness in her head.
Her head drooped as she walked beside her Khari; it had felt so heavy lately, and the effort to stand tall rarely felt worth it. She rubbed her cheek against Khari’s shoulder and let out a quiet little sigh. He slowed, found them a place to curl up, and she nodded and settled beside him, tucking herself up against him and snuggling as close as she could get, her cheek resting against his neck.
Sure, she agreed, closing her eyes and rubbing her cheek against him just a little more. Whatever you want. He was unusually quiet, but she didn’t think much of it ‘til he asked her what she’d said. She lifted her head and turned to look at him, expression gently puzzled. He tried to play it off, but it made her look closer, notice the ache in his eyes, the weariness there.
It’s fine. This is cozy. Nice. She pressed a little closer as he pulled her in, snuck a little nuzzle to his cheek in the hopes of reassuring him. Cozy and quiet and alone sounded perfect, and she was happy to just curl up with him and be for a while. I like it. She wasn’t really much of one for playing these days, but she was alwayyys ready to cuddle with her Khari.
Just hold me, maybe? she asked softly, and brushed the side of her nose against his neck. Tucked up against him and wrapped up in his embrace, blanketed by his wing and bathing in the scent of him, still smelling like home even though their home had changed, it sounded perfect. He was home.
Her head drooped as she walked beside her Khari; it had felt so heavy lately, and the effort to stand tall rarely felt worth it. She rubbed her cheek against Khari’s shoulder and let out a quiet little sigh. He slowed, found them a place to curl up, and she nodded and settled beside him, tucking herself up against him and snuggling as close as she could get, her cheek resting against his neck.
Sure, she agreed, closing her eyes and rubbing her cheek against him just a little more. Whatever you want. He was unusually quiet, but she didn’t think much of it ‘til he asked her what she’d said. She lifted her head and turned to look at him, expression gently puzzled. He tried to play it off, but it made her look closer, notice the ache in his eyes, the weariness there.
It’s fine. This is cozy. Nice. She pressed a little closer as he pulled her in, snuck a little nuzzle to his cheek in the hopes of reassuring him. Cozy and quiet and alone sounded perfect, and she was happy to just curl up with him and be for a while. I like it. She wasn’t really much of one for playing these days, but she was alwayyys ready to cuddle with her Khari.
Just hold me, maybe? she asked softly, and brushed the side of her nose against his neck. Tucked up against him and wrapped up in his embrace, blanketed by his wing and bathing in the scent of him, still smelling like home even though their home had changed, it sounded perfect. He was home.