life before Him seems distant… a hazy, unfocused and half forgotten memory…she thinks and tries to remember… what was it like? what was life like before she knew love and lost it? already she has been working tirelessly and somewhat hopelessly to block out the crystalline memories of what life had been like with Him… but that was nearly impossible. every pain reminded her of him and every pleasure. she did not intend to form new relationships. she did not intend, really, for anything. her mind was trapped in a strange limbo, a world between loss and hope. a barrier had been formed around her soul, protecting itself from the ugly anger in her mind and bitterness in her heart and her body was merely operating like a machine in the meantime. dredge does not return his smile, her ears sinking lower as he takes another tentative step in her direction. she raises her head, dark as a cloud of smoke, concerned with his sudden proximity. it is not truly sudden, just that she has noticed it all at once. when was the last time someone had come this close to her? a pang of hurt thumps in her chest. a hard snort leaves her maw, velvety dark nostrils flaring as she lets her eyes search him. there is a hard curiosity in their depths. what does he want? chit chat? surely he could find another soul who would be more receptive to his banter… why does he stay? dredge doesn’t offer to agree with him. she would shrug if she could. what was the point in meeting anyone? why bother. her body has tightened with his approach, muscles coiling hard and anxious under her painted hide. it is almost painful to stand so close to him and not move away, but to her surprise, something in her likes this pain. it craves the ugly twisting sensation in her gut at the discomfort and feeds on the aching wretchedness of her irritation. her confusion increases at his nonchalant and pleasant expressions… was he enjoying this exchange? he seemed relaxed… unconcerned with her displeasure and yet somehow strangely attuned to it. she is surprised when he continues, talking about the falls and their strange magnetism. the awful intensity she felt in the previous moments dissipates somewhat when her eyes follow his back to the water. he seems lost in a daze as he asks her name and she feels one dark ear flick up from the crown of black hair at his question. before she can help herself a growl leaves her lips. ”what good would it do for you to know?” a scowl settles on her features but her eyes wander from the sight of the water back to his body. he is still unsettlingly close, close enough that she can feel the warmth from his body and how her own skin seems to warm in response. why do bodies do these things? the chaotic sensation disturbs her and in order to turn her thoughts away from the direction they wander she mutters darkly. ”i’m dredge.” she doesn’t ask his name, but as the cadence of their interaction becomes clearer she assumes he’ll tell her. |