PERSEPHONE

It seemed so very like Warsaw, from what little she truly knew of him, to spoil things just as they seemed to be going in a slightly more positive direction. She got the impression he didn’t know when to quit. Perhaps if his end goal weren’t so wicked it might have even bee endearing, to a different woman at a different time.

But to Persephone, it certainly was not.

A small grin had just begun to curl her lips at his playful response, as she was beginning to think his visit might be harmless after all, when he reached out to touch her. The movement surprised her, but she didn’t flinch. Instead, she pulled her own nose to her chest with a snort, intercepting him. Their muzzles bumped together, warm flesh connecting for just a moment before her pulled away.

Her dark eyes narrowed as she watched him carefully, and her ears flicked back just for a moment until he withdrew, but otherwise she did not rise to his provocation. She didn’t have to wait long to discover his true intentions.

Persephone listened carefully, but for several moments she was not sure whether she understood. Whatever convoluted plan she had suspected Warsaw of having, this was not it. She couldn’t quite believe her ears. She might have thought it part of his foolish joke, had his smile not melted away into an altogether too serious expression. He spoke of it like a business transaction, his seed like a treasure she ought to beg for.

The thought of them becoming a ‘we’ almost made her shudder.

For a second, she was speechless. When she finally gathered her thoughts, it took some effort to keep her voice calm and controlled.

“Well then, we are fortunate that I do not intend to die anytime soon.” She paused a moment, collecting herself. “I can’t think of anyone’s seed” – the word stuck to her tongue like dirt – “I would less like to carry.”

She watched him carefully for his reaction, keeping her expression as straight as possible.

“Now, do you have some serious business you need to attend to, or is it all just jokes?”

all of your demons will wither away

mixed, bay varnish roan, 14.3hh