The brute that had crept into her eye as she had entered the half burnt field of blossoms had finally seen her, and her emeralds caught his body cringing as hers so often did in the presence of others. He jumped to his paws and in response, Apollonia hunkered to hers, terrified. Her weight was all on her back feet, ready to run should she need to, though he had no doubt that he would be able to outrun her, especially considering that she was in a family way and he was not, and she was still nursing her wounds that had been inflicted upon her by Harries. Lifting her lips, she bared her teeth, a low growl coming out of her chest as he hunkered to the earth as well. His gaze was unblinking and it unnerved the ess, but then he began to back away and she relaxed just a bit. He was acting as if he was afraid of her… but then again Harries had acted as if he was in love with her. Were all men cheaters and liars? It certainly seemed so, or maybe it was all wolves. Lolita had said vehemently that she held no feelings for Apollonia’s father and that she was not to be with him, and yet when Apollonia had returned from her encounters with Akuji, beaten and battered, she had discovered just how much Lolita had lied. Lolita and Lycaon were paired now, and it just was not fair. Her father was the only one she could call family, and Lolita had stolen him from her.

So the dilemma before her was as follows – should she trust that this brute meant her no harm, or try to flee from him? Just then, the brute started shaking, and then finally his quivering voice reached her across from the meadow. What… what do you want? Di-did I offend you somehow? If I did I’m sorry. Just leave me alone woman! I apologized! Her auds perked upward, halfcocked and unsure. His words were strange to say the least, but at least they alluded to the possibility that he was more scared of her than she was of him.

Moving a few steps toward him, Apollonia crawled onto her belly, laying directly on the midline just as he was. There was still a goodly distance between the pair, enough to be able to give her a head start should she need it. “I… no you… I just… don’t. Please… don’t hurt… me…” Her voice was quiet to begin with, but as her vocals trembled and quivered it faded off into nothingness.