“Gerald came in terrified,” he said, gesturing toward the snugglethorn rearing up on its hind legs to grab leaves from a maple. He dropped to the ground, chewing. “He wouldn’t let anyone near him for three days. Now he seeks out affection.”
I stopped listening to the words somewhere around the fourth enclosure and started listening to his voice instead.
His tone gentled when he said their names. And he used a softer cadence when he described how frightened they’d been and how far they’d come since they’d arrived. He talked about creatures like their fear and recovery mattered in ways that didn’t need justification.
On the way back, we stopped where Gerald was eating from another maple and Brovish unlatched the gate.
“Would you like to touch him?” he asked.
“I would.”
Brovish widened the gate. “Feel welcome. He’s gentle.”
I stepped through and he followed, close enough I felt his body heat. The enclosure wasn’t small, but it suddenly felt like it was. There wasn’t quite enough air.
Gerald turned his head our way and made a low, rumbling sound.
“He wants you to sit,” Brovish said.
I blinked. “How can you tell that?”
“It’s obvious.”
To him, maybe. Not yet to me.
I couldn’t wait until I knew every creature here well enough to tell myself.
“Does he want me to sit here or closer to him?”
“With both of us. He’s particular about his affection. It has to be earned through stillness.”
I strode closer to Gerald and lowered myself to the ground, the dirt cool and slightly damp beneath me. Brovish sat beside me.
Gerald watched us with his dark, placid eyes before nibbling on a dropped maple leaf.
“How long does this usually take?” I asked.
“As long as he needs.”
Sofia peeped from my shoulder and launched herself at Gerald, landing on his broad back. The snugglethorn’s wool rippled, but he didn’t try to move her away.
We sat quietly, and Gerald eventually settled on the ground by our knees.
Brovish’s breathing was steady beside me. I became very aware of my own.
“You’re good at waiting,” I said softly. “Being still. Not needing to fill the silence.”
Gerald shifted, leaning in our direction.
“Where I come from, we’re taught that some creatures can only be reached through patience,” Brovish said. “If you push, they run. If you wait, they come.”
I turned my head and found he was looking down at me.
Gerald chose that moment to rise and stride over to lean against Brovish’s side, which pushed Brovish into me. This knocked me backward, though Brovish caught me with a sweepof one arm, lowering me to the soft grass. He leaned over me, his arms braced on either side of my shoulders.
I stared at his tusks. His very kissable mouth in a shade of green slightly darker than his skin.
“He’s made his decision,” Brovish said.
