"Do you know what? It doesn't matter."
She stands, absently dusting off her rear. I find myself standing also, my tail flicking behind me.
"I'm not hungry," Ah-Lanah mumbles to no one, before turning and leaving the feast.
I, of course, follow.
"Ah-Lanah."
"Go away, Mav."
"I will not."
She huffs and starts storming off even faster. For some inexplicable reason, following after the infuriating female makes me salivate - as if I were stalking my prey. I trail behind her while she weaves in and out of the village's huts and smaller fires. She doesn't seem to have any particular destination in mind. The female's hut is in the opposite direction, even.
"Are you leaving because you feel sickness again? Ah-Lanah if you-"
"No! For fuck's sake, Mavyx,leave me alone!"
I halt in my tracks. Her words don't make total sense to me, but I can catch their meaning and the anger thrown behind them. The trouble is, I cannot 'leave her alone'. Not when she is so upset and for reasons unknown.
With a few silent wingbeats, I lift my feet from the ground and reach higher until I am able to glide over her head, turn and then drop my feet directly in front of her, cutting off her progress. Ah-Lanah's defenses are instant. She startles with an adorable human squeak and slaps me in the chest.
Grabbing her fragile little wrists in my much larger hands, I hold them together. "Ah-Lanah, it's me," I soothe. I did not mean to scare her.
Her eyes blaze up at me. "I know it's you, bird-brain! Hence the slapping!"
I cannot help it. I snort and grin down at her, her wrists still bound in my grip.
But she does not grin back. Not even a little bit. In fact, the defiant glare she keeps locked on me is void of all amusement. And, like on a night lacking star-shine or moon-glow, I am instantly wary.
My grin slides off my face and I find myself standing there like an idiot, holding onto this little female's wrists and staring at her.
Just...staring.
It feels like if I were to let her go, she would flee again. I would chase her, of course. And I do not think she would like me for it.
So I just hold onto her.
And I do not think she likes me for that, either.
It is so dark in this little corner of the village that I can see the reflection of my own pulsing heart-stars in the glimmer and shine of her beautiful dark eyes - eyes that are far too wet-looking, now that I really make a study of them. They are lined with...
They are lined with tears.
"Ah-Lanah," I breathe, pulling her closer by her wrists. "What is wrong? Are you feeling-"
"No.I'm fine."
The words are grit out and entirely unconvincing. She is a defiant little thing, my female.
"You are not fine, my star." I drop one of her wrists and move to cup the side of her face and wipe the wet track of a tear streaking down her cheek. "Tell me. Let me help you-"
"You can't help me, Mavyx!" she hisses, twisting out of my grasp completely and then shoving me square in the chest. I do not move, of course. Humans are small and their strength does not match that of a Trixikka Protector.
She shoves me again. Apparently irritated at my strength. I give in and sway a little.
"No one can help me!" she spits, giving another shove. I stagger this time and it is not all for show. Her words make me feel unsteady somehow. "I'm helpless," she continues with more, renewed angry shoving. "There's nothingyou, or anyone can do to help me!"
