"Yes, he will protect her, and I hope she doesn't hate me for it but I told him he would be stuck with her forever."
I chuff. Leave it to my Ree to not only convince the male to do what she wants, but to make sure her friend has a dedicated protector.
"You did well. He looked in far better spirits when he left."
"Thanks, Thivoll. I was afraid he would kill himself and I just felt bad for him, but I will admit I also used him and his grief toward my own ends."
She has a good heart, but spends too much time questioning her actions. Not to mention too much time putting herself in danger.
I veer away from that thought and back to the topic at hand.
"Did you lie to him?"
"No. But I didn't tell the whole truth."
I push my whiskers forward.
She never wants to concede and I love it. "Can anyone ever tell the whole truth?"
She growls at me. "Stop being so reasonable, Fluff Face."
"We both know my face is distinctly lacking in fluff."
"Fine. How about Fluff Ass? Fluff Tail? Fluff Brain? Oh, I like that one."
I chuff in response.
"I can keep going," she tells me in a needling tone.
Her tone turns serious again. "Are we alright, Thivoll? Are you still angry?"
"No, I'm not. But I'm still scared."
"I know. I regret that. I'm scared, too."
"I'd prefer if some of that fear translated into caution."
"I'll try," she tells me in a small voice.
I know it's the best I'll get from her, so I break the tension by returning to our conversation.
From the look of that male, I think he could use his own little human to scare the life right back into him, but I know better than to tell her that.
"So he knows how to use the chamber controls?"
"Dammit," she bites out. "I didn't explain it. But, wait . . . that could be a good thing."
I almost don't want to break her out of her delusions, but I have too much fun prodding her so I do it anyway.
"He looked pretty determined. You were too successful convincing him. Maybe next time make the secret prize inside the package seem less tantalizing."
I can't help but let out a quickly cut off chuff that ruins the serious tone I had maintained.
She lets out a growl of frustration, but with an edge to it let me know it's directed at me not the situation. I think I like that sound just as much as her trill.
My whiskers move forward and a purr starts in my chest.
"You really are a Fluff Brain. Thivoll . . . are you pulling my tail now?"
