Khaleesi, Boleyn, Scallywag, Achlys, Renai, Zeltzin, even Grimoire and the other strangers that come to sea...there are many women, it seems, that are drawn to my life. Yet, few are consistent. Many drift away into nothingness, mere names that live in the back of my mind and others drift on the outskirts like ghosts - but there is one who has been consistent. Or rather, is consistent. How strange, no? I am no fool to not have noticed but a fool, perhaps, to grow too complacent, too comfortable with such a fact. The others had disappeared but they had never threatened to leave, or to be taken.

Perhaps I ought to consider who he is - or rather, what he is to her, yet I find myself uncaring of his place in the world. No, I care only for his place in her life - a life that I am more than happy to defend from him. Who would have thought? Perhaps Achlys was not the last one to find something new inside me.

"Repens imo successit pelle mea," the words are like a growl as I push against her. You crawled beneath my skin though it is not an accusation, rather a fact. So, this is weakness. Or is this a strength? She is no weakness like Lihi, this I know at least. Her haughtiness raises my brows and for a moment, I pause, half expecting her to prove the point that she is very much freer than the others - yet, I feel myself relax when she does so. It is that assurance that encourages me to circle once more, the two of our scents becoming one among the salt and pine.

I stop beside her then, allowing my weight to lean into her once more, fighting the uncomfortablity that comes with touch; I can feel her fur against skin and scar. Her warmth is different to others, I think. It is less intrusive, more welcome. "I cannot stop you," I state knowingly, my eyes narrowing, "but I will not allow another to be your shadow." There is the instinctive baring of teeth but for a moment, the tips breaking the black line of lip before I force them away. Instead, I lean forward, my head alongside hers as I watch for the truth behind her eyes - "Do you know my meaning?" Perhaps I do not need to put such things into words and yet, if I speak them, perhaps the world will understand that I shan't be allowing another to drift away into nothingness.