One might say that this was the knock on my noggin that I needed. The thing that would suffuse life back into me. I couldn't quite say that as I lay there blinking in astonishment at the large male before me. He was nothing like my Zeus and this wolf, I couldn't confuse him for my old flame. With his black and white patterns, not to mention the scars upon him. He looked kind of like some heavenly warrior fallen to earth and gauged by some beast. I can see his face twisting in concern as he dips down as a way to ... what? Make me not scared of him?

I am startled to realize that I am not. Typically I was fearful of others. My life had been a constant passage of wolves who would seek to abuse me in some shape or form. Zeus hadn't. Nike hadn't... but I can't quite tell if I am insane. If only I knew THIS male feared such insanity. I might break down cackling now in front of him, although it would likely turn to tears, because I KNOW I am. I've been told that. I really needed to see Meryl.

Are you okay Chere? It is quite possibly the endearment that actually breaks through my trance as I stare at him with blank steel gray eyes. I blink hard then and feel the aching of my body almost as if his words have summoned them. I hurt everywhere but it isn't due to this hit. It was because I failed - I had no purpose. "No." The word comes out slow and heavy on a sigh. I stare up at him and try hard. I try, really, to be normal. "My bones don't break, but my mind does," I say, but what I meant to say was HELLO, HOW ARE YOU. I give him a shocked look, as if I can't believe I said that, and then I suddenly just lay my head on my paws before sliding them up and over my eyes.

"Nevermind, just go away," I say woefully, my voice muffled by my paws. Embarrassment singes through me and it awakens that normal part of me that I had for so long forgotten about.