04-05-2020, 09:45 PM
She was aware when Jacinda returned; scent preceded her, and the soft tread of her footsteps. The quiet of her emotions was all very loud. “Know that,” she muttered. “You said.” Dark eyes glanced upwards. None of the anger had been at the other woman, nor was it now, but Tenzin did not blunt herself for the other’s benefit. That was a privilege of pack. Or maybe a burden, depending on how you looked at it. She shoved the offending coffee in the bin, snapping the pan against the metal rim even though it made her sensitive ears ring. “Didn’t “dump”. And not friends. Said we were same.” Something in the way she said it almost suggested a perceived insult, though she knew that was vastly unfair. It did very little to dilute her frustration.
“Angry, is all,” she snapped, as though that explained everything. “For inquisitor. For Regan.” Another bang, though the pan was empty. “And then sound like giving up! For what happened making doubt. But I tell you we are guardian. You and I, same now. Regan can’t take it. Nor inquisitor. Nor dead Regus. Won’t let them.” The vast quantities of emotion squatting in her chest did very little for her broken English, nor her impatience to be understood, which she sorely doubted would be the case -- even to her own ears, it sounded like gibberish. So she reached for the other woman’s wrist; the one with Silver’s tooth, and shook the limb none too gently. “Not alone, stupid.”
Pack. If only Jacinda could feel the force of that sentiment as deeply as Tenzin did, but she might as well wish to swallow the moon as Silver had tried as a pup. She’d at least thought the past months had built bonds, though; ones not so easily thrown away on human insecurities.
She sat back on her heels.
“Not neatly packaged. Nor you.” She jabbed an accusing finger for the last word, but she thought the worst of her ire had drained now. Perhaps she should have run, despite Jacinda following so swiftly behind after she abandoned the inquisitor and his hunt. It was how she usually worked out her emotions and maintained the sort of calm she imagined Jacinda had come to expect of her company. It would have been kinder, perhaps, but nature was seldom kind. Wolves fought, and even innocent teeth sometimes tore skin. Perhaps Tenzin could not share the whole truth of herself, but she could be honest at least about that. “Did not mean to bite,” she said eventually. “Well, did. But did not mean to hurt you.” A final exhale, still bordering on belligerent. “Say something now.”
“Angry, is all,” she snapped, as though that explained everything. “For inquisitor. For Regan.” Another bang, though the pan was empty. “And then sound like giving up! For what happened making doubt. But I tell you we are guardian. You and I, same now. Regan can’t take it. Nor inquisitor. Nor dead Regus. Won’t let them.” The vast quantities of emotion squatting in her chest did very little for her broken English, nor her impatience to be understood, which she sorely doubted would be the case -- even to her own ears, it sounded like gibberish. So she reached for the other woman’s wrist; the one with Silver’s tooth, and shook the limb none too gently. “Not alone, stupid.”
Pack. If only Jacinda could feel the force of that sentiment as deeply as Tenzin did, but she might as well wish to swallow the moon as Silver had tried as a pup. She’d at least thought the past months had built bonds, though; ones not so easily thrown away on human insecurities.
She sat back on her heels.
“Not neatly packaged. Nor you.” She jabbed an accusing finger for the last word, but she thought the worst of her ire had drained now. Perhaps she should have run, despite Jacinda following so swiftly behind after she abandoned the inquisitor and his hunt. It was how she usually worked out her emotions and maintained the sort of calm she imagined Jacinda had come to expect of her company. It would have been kinder, perhaps, but nature was seldom kind. Wolves fought, and even innocent teeth sometimes tore skin. Perhaps Tenzin could not share the whole truth of herself, but she could be honest at least about that. “Did not mean to bite,” she said eventually. “Well, did. But did not mean to hurt you.” A final exhale, still bordering on belligerent. “Say something now.”