The strain in his muscles has them tense and on edge. Each step he takes seems to taunt him lazily at ridding of the extra weight, the gentle sway her body adding the effect. Yet he denies his body's demand for not even it would change his decision, whatever that may be. The snow beneath him crushes easily, sunset eyes blinking at the familiar and yet foreign terrain of his home, for this path was not one he had traveled. Instead of leading him to his own den with mother and father he veers off taking them towards the main gathering, where surely others would be near to take this bundle of fur from his hands. The curiosity is there of just who this girl is but not enough for him to linger to long on it. Answers would be soon enough... hopefully.

The soft word that escapes has him pausing in mid step, sunset eyes jerking down towards the small thing in his grasp as his lip twitches around her scruff, an answering rumble breathed heavy upon her neck as he wishes to silence her. Looking back upon the path, scenting the air as the scents of those who live here too begin to filter in stronger, letting him know he is closer to the main gathering among the peaks. As movement once more begins. It is not until he spots a nearby vacant den does he veers off the path and boldly enters. Glancing briefly as if to make sure it was empty before he lowers his head and releases her to a short fall upon the warm den floor. As soon as the act is done he steps back oddly quick, eyeing her both curiously and with a hint of judgment. A rasped grunt falling from his lips as he begins to pace at the den entrance, sunset eyes dancing between the outside world and back to the small girl. Lost in thought, unsure of what he should do or even why he thinks he should do anything. When a thought crosses his mind he looks back to the tri-colored girl, stepping with purpose towards her as he leans down and growls softly, a mixture of both fierceness and gentleness. A warning and a comforting gesture. Before he turns back to disappear through the entrance into the world of white.

Only after a few steps have been taken he turns back, sticking his head back in as another growl rumbles from within. A telling sign he wanted her to stay. At the end of the sound he nods absently satisfied she understood what he demanded. As he disappears once more, leaving her alone but for a moment, hoping she would not do anything foolish until his return.

The warm blood that fills his mouth drips with ease upon the white snow, his stomach rolling at the sense as his hunger grows with the lifeless form swinging from his jaws. A sense of anger takes him as he gnaws absently at on the creature. His heart still pounds from the chase and his adrenaline still courses through his veins, leaving his aggression still on it's peak. Approaching the den, it seems to only aggravate his senses as he once again begins to growl grumpily. Despite his slow pace he almost charges into the den, hard sunset eyes zeroing in on the girl as his hair soon stands on end. Stopping before her as his teeth gleam around the hare in his jaws before he drops it before her. The absence of the hare allows one side of his lip to curl up as his brow seems to follow the moment, tempting her to deny this gift.

A grunt of unease escapes him as he returns to the den entrance, ignoring her now completely as he watches the white world outside for a hope that someone will soon pass. His mind battles with him, torn between leaving and staying. She was not his blood, he owed her nothing and yet why is he here, why did he feel the need to feed her? Shield her? The thought causes a rasped snarl to rip from his lips as he briefly looks back at her, wondering just what in the hell had he done and if he had truly gone mad at last.

everett

THE SAINT WITHIN THE SINNER