My lovely golden eyes narrowed only further at her words, head tilting to the side in a manner so childish I would have been ashamed had I seen my own features though perhaps they suited the rest of my youthful appearance. I didn’t mean to anger her, not truly, the words had just…..come from within, as if I couldn’t stop them, as if someone else had spoken them instead of me and once I started I couldn’t stop- managing at last to clamp my jaw firmly in place to hopefully stop any further words coming out. I didn’t work though, her reply seeing my gaze narrow slightly as I seemed possessed to speak once more even though I hardly knew where the words were coming from or why I was so compelled to offer them as she spoke about the scars on her frame, my gaze travelling over them as she did.

“Courage and foolishness are not the same thing. If you didn’t fear anything you would have no self-preservation, because there would be no need. Fear keeps us alive- scars do not make you brave, they mean only that you threw yourself at too many fangs over the years and failed to develop the sense to avoid them.”

What was I saying?! Golden eyes widened slightly in surprise at myself, a moment of fear flickering briefly within my gaze as I clamped my jaw shut once more, maybe what I said was true, but how should I know about fear and courage? I dreamed about them, sure, heard words not my own whispered in the dark. I just liked to think I had a guardian angel or sorts, someone who watched over me- he’d never put words in my mouth before though. Either that or I had a very over active imagination, they say my Father did once- too. Maybe I was just like him, forever lost in a daydream….that made me say things. Right. I was distracted I suppose, by my own words that seemed only designed to annoy her, her form lunging suddenly forward to collide with my own, earthen frame knocked readily from my long legs as I tumbled to the ground- before I pivoted suddenly beneath her, twisting to allow dark claws to grip the earth and launch my form out from under her and away. Like I said- I’m fast, it’s my skill, form spun once more to face her with heckles lifted lightly in surprise and aggression, ready to at least take a bite from her if she tried such a thing again, the response natural, instinctive- not that fighting was really my thing. I never learned how.

She spoke again, once more, pressing closer still as I let my own lip peel back from the white of fangs I have never shown another before, instinct once more, a warning- before she turned away, unwilling to attack her daughters…friend I suppose. I was glad for that. At least I got the information I needed, form bristling still as she moved away, waiting for her to wander back into the darkness before I leapt forward once more, launching in the other direction to break into a sprint and back towards Asteraia.