I tilt my head. Old and gray? I wrinkle my nose at the mental picture I'm getting.

"I don't think I'll want to meet much of anyone when I look like that."

I shake my head and shudder. I don't like thinking about myself all wrinkly and old. I remember the elders of the pack. They hobbled around on canes and told stories. They were revered in the pack but they were helpless. They were fed and hunted for. They didn't do much of anything. I've always wanted to be useful so I dread the thought of being old and defenseless, more so than usual. I wonder if he's trying to remind me of my vulnerability, my mortality. He doesn't ask why I'm here alone. Maybe he's figured out that it's not easy for me to make friends. I have pack instincts and urges to find others to be a part of but at the same time, I dread the thought of being with people I don't know ro trust. So far I only have Raven. I cn't find myself trusting Tobi completely just because he's rather unpredictable at times. And Davante...well, I've really just met him but so far he hasn't done anything to sway me.

As I move off to collect the medical supplies, he starts looking arounda dn I feel a little self conscious at the idea of someone besides Raven or Isolt being in the house with me. As I'm walking back, I can hear the rustling of wood being dropped into the fireplace and I gently move my shoulder against the wall, leaning on it briefly to watch him from around the corner. I've always enjoyed the fire in the fireplace even thogh I cringe at the idea of lighting it myself. Fires have always petrified me but for some reason the fireplace makes me feel safe. Irony for you. Maybe because it's trapped behind a metal grate. It might not do much realistically but for my mind, it seems to be enough to make me relax a little around my worst enemy.

I watch as he lights the fire, the flames reflecting in my deep brown eyes as I finally walk around the corner with the supplies. I can see a new emotion in his eyes as he looks into the flames. He looks almost...content. As he sits beside me, I feel a small tingle at the thought of being close to a guy. I don't think I'll ever get over the fear I feel when a man gets close to me but it's a little less urgent when I know him at least. Tobi has led me through the Ark and sat across from me at tables. Heck, he used to put me on his lap as a fox all the time and every time I'd yelp or squirm but I think I'm getting better about it, at least when it comes to him. Any other guy is a different matter entirely. But I think I owe it to Davante to give him that much trust. He hasn't steered me wrong yet. I bite on my bottom lip as I look down at my lap, trying to focus on the supplies I'm setting out as I get ready to wash his hands and bandage them.

I catch the humor in his words, finding myself looking up to meet his gaze finally. My lips quirk toward the shadow of a smirk, eyes softening with amusement as heat flares to my cheeks. I look back down hurridly, busying myself with soaking the rag in the water before I reach out for one of his hands, dragging the wet rag softly across his knuckles as I clean the blood off. I find it easier to talk to him when I'm not looking at him.

"I used to help with the injured a lot at my pack. Everything from bumps and scratches to missing limbs and gut shots."

I shudder at the memory. As a pack, we hunted together most of the time but things didn't always go to plan. The hunting parties came back with injured sometimes, everything from a goring by elk antler to wolf and bear attacks and the occasional shot wound from an angry hunter. The women were the menders of the pack so I learned along with everyone else how to sew and bandage and curse the injured back to health. It was oddly fulfilling for me. I continue to wipe the rag gently across his skin, doing the same to the other hand when I'm done with the first. I dry them both off with soft patting before I grab some ointment. I put some on my finger and gently dab it on his wounds, unable to meet his eyes at any point right now. I shift a little before clearing my throat as I release his hand.

"It's not a miracle cure but it should do. I can't guarantee you won't have scars though."

I shrug a little. Squaring myself, I finally turn back to him and cross my legs.

"Do you have anyone at home who will be worrying about you? I'd hate to hold you up."

alexis wilde