15.3hh - Gypsy Vanner - Lead of the Inlet


Pagan stood beside her, his tail occasionally swishing through the cold night air. She seemed to need the quiet to think and draw her strength just as others seemed to need action and energy to feel their lives be fueled, just as he needed to feel his home around him to feel as though he were complete. As she studied him, he studied her, the subtle movements of her expression and small smiles lost in the minimal light offered by the moon behind the slowly dissipating storm clouds. Other senses were trained on her, to be the emotional stability for her herd just as he would be their physical protector.

In his eyes she was so young. A young woman who had only just come out of childhood, who had never experienced it. His heart broke for her, even if it was possibly not what she had wanted from him. She moved closer to him, possibly unconsciously, and he reached his nose out to her. Wordless and silent he offered his home, his strength, and his support with the movement. His small smile pulled on his white lips. “You being there was enough to give her the strength she needed to win that fight.” A white ear flicked to Georgiana before returning to the daughter. “But such wounds run deep and it takes a lot of time for scars to fade.”

Her voice carried the tones of her forced smile and he chuckled again in appreciative amusement. “They were.” He tilted his head slightly. “But after a time we found that we needed to build our lives ourselves as well. What we built was stronger for it though.” Still keeping a respectful distance he moved slightly closer, partially for warmth and partially to shift with the movement of wind to shield both of them from the cold. “You aren’t alone here anymore, Sirena. You and your mother have Braylen, and me, now.”

PAGAN