cold in the violence after the war
hope is a fire to keep us warm
She had been so excited to go with Daddy to see his home. It seemed much more interesting than hanging out on the island, especially when Dagen is so grumpy that Mommy had gone. She didn't see why. What she'd gone to do sounded so boring. Daddy is way more fun anyway.
Except that the minute they got there they'd been interrupted (very rudely, she might add) by a gray man who had seemed to make Dad very grumpy. She hadn't liked that one bit. But since Dad hadn't really fussed much, she supposed she could cooperate too. Of course, cooperating doesn't mean she had to be happy about it. Or even pretend to be happy. Which means every time the dumb gray man even looks at her, she flattens her ears against her neck.
She only wishes she were a little bigger and scarier. She'd tell him exactly where he could shove his stupid self.
She sticks close to Dad as they walk, Dagen at her side. She reaches out occasionally to touch him with her nose, comforted by his closeness. He is her Dagen, even if he does get a little grumpy sometimes. She couldn't imagine being apart from him, not when he'd been by her side as far back as she can remember.
When Daddy says her name, her head immediately pops up, eyes brightening. Shoving in between him and Briella (she's not even a little jealous, really... But she's pretty sure it's her turn to snuggle with dad), she presses forward until she can rub her face against his neck, biting the armor over his shoulder for good measure. “I love you Daddy,” she says happily, almost absently, as she beams up at him.
Suddenly remembering the dumb stranger, she turns her bright blue gaze to scowl at him, pinning her ears as she does so. Just to remind him she's watching. Lest he forget he'd earned her wrath. She glowers at him, keeping her gaze fixed even as she begins to turn away, until she's fully facing Dovev once more.
“Do you think mommy will be here soon?” she asks with a little frown. Her tummy is getting a little grumbly. And Mom had promised she wouldn't be gone too long.
Brazen
