In Plain Sight [M] [DragonSong]

[Juno]

He smiled warmly for the way she'd done it, recognizing the animal quality. He swallowed nervously for her closeness but focused his attention on the hair he was being permitted to touch.

He buried his fingers among her much darker locks, fingertips brushing her scalp briefly with a feather light touch before he pulled his hand free. Careful of any tangles and snags along the way he focused on a particular soft section, his brow furrowing as he gently wound it around two fingers and rubbed his thumb along it with a gentle pressure. "Very soft," he praised, taking his time as he didn't particularly want to let go yet. "Do you mind?"

[DragonSong]

A soft sound that was something between a sigh and a hum escaped her and she leaned into the touch unconsciously. It was nice- was this what the wolves felt when she pet them?

"Uh-uh," she said quietly in answer to his question. "Don't mind. I like it." Curious, wanting more contact, she reached out and lightly grasped his other wrist, pulling his hand up to her hair. "More?" She tilted her head, blinking at him with wide eyes.

[Juno]

"Oh. Sure," he agreed, nodding some as he slowly worked his other hand through her hair in a mostly exploratory fashion. Once he'd run it all from root to tip, though, he lowered one hand to rest on her shoulder as the other settled to massage gently at the nape of her neck, fascinated by the particular softness there. "Doesn't hurt, right?" he checked, eyes flickering to her own.

[DragonSong]

That same humming sigh rose up in her throat and her eyes slid closed for a moment, relishing the contact. "No, doesn't hurt," she confirmed. "Good. Feels nice." She let her hand slide down to his shoulder and tried to mimic the kneading motions he was placing on her neck.

A coughing sort of bark suddenly drew her attention and she spun around to see Icefang giving them a very dry look. Brenna frowned and woofed, asking why her foster sister was there. The wolf barked back and nodded back in the direction of the den.

Sighing, Brenna turned back to Christopher. "Want to know where I am. Longclaw getting worried."

[Juno]

He hadn't expected her to try the same but it was a wholly pleasing sensation that made him want to purr. And he might have, if he'd had a bit more time with her.

The bark drew his attention, though, eyes suddenly fully open as he hadn't even realized he'd been close to closing them under her attention. "Ahh, time to go home, then?" he guessed. It wasn't a bad thing, he supposed she would need to return to the pack eventually as he'd really only stolen her away for privacy enough to reveal his leopard to her.

Still, he felt the slight and strange tugging of loss as he let his hands fall away from her. "Tomorrow?" he asked, wondering how often he could get away with seeing her.

[DragonSong]

Brenna nodded eagerly. "Tomorrow," she agreed with a smile. She started to turn to follow Icefang, then paused. Glancing back at Christopher, she asked slowly, "Could I...see your den? Home?" It may take some convincing, but she thought Longclaw would let her go.

Though curiosity was the driving force behind much of her interest in the shifter, she couldn't deny that there was a strange sort of pull that made her want to know more about him, personally, not just more about two-leggers.

[Juno]

"If you want to," he agreed, smiling slightly at the thought of showing her so many new things and that wonderful look of pure, innocent wonder he was growing quite fond of. "I'll take you there."

Perhaps if things went well he might be able to coax her into meeting other humans. She seemed a very naturally curious young woman, so he hoped a small taste of civilization with him might make her want to see more of it.

He stayed where he was, stuffing his hands into his pockets for warmth as he watched. There was a particular protectiveness he felt towards her. It would make him feel better if he could at least make sure she got back to her pack safely.

[DragonSong]

Beaming, Brenna nodded again and voiced a heartfelt, "Thank you." She gave him a quick wave before darted toward Icefang and falling into step beside the wolf as they made their way back to the den.

She kept looking back over her shoulder though, smiling a bit when she realized Christopher was still there. Where with another predator she may have felt a little wary under that gaze, for some reason with him it didn't bother her.

Her face felt warm again though. Huh.

[Juno]

The next day was filled with a deep clean his den had not seen in quite some time. There was no point in her visiting if it was messy and dirty, after all. The structure was mostly a cave with a small section outside that was protected from the elements by a proper roof and walls.

He'd made the place as human-like as possible in his time there with a proper bed and a floor of furs in all the walking areas. He had room enough for a cooking fire when he fancied it, but wood was always so troublesome to keep stocked in the winter months. Even so, he'd also gone out to get a bit in case she wanted to see it in action.

With the majority of his possessions stacked neatly or otherwise relatively organized he finally set out to return to the pack's den once more around midday. He didn't call out to her until he was nearly to the mouth of it, peering in curiously at the wolves he expected to see. "Hi Bryn."

[DragonSong]

The wolves had scented Christopher's approach, but by now they were growing used to him so it only elicited a few curious sniffs and huffs. Even Longclaw only shot a quick look at the mouth of the cave before settling down against Snowfur again.

Brenna scrambled to her feet and climbed out of the den, blinking as she stepped into the light and grinning when she saw Christopher. "Hi." She glanced back at the wolves and the gave a low, huffing whine.

Longclaw grumbled but his mate barked back, telling the Little One to go and enjoy herself. They were going on another hunt today, but they could work around her absence.

Smile firmly in place, Brenna padded up to Christopher's side. "We going to your den?"

[Juno]

"Hi," he greeted warmly, giving a little wave as she approached. "If you're allowed to go." He smiled, suddenly feeling a little bashful with the wolves there and listening to their conversation. There was nothing wrong with it and nothing worth hiding, but he'd liked the relative privacy with her before.

"Is...Longclaw all right with that?" he asked, glancing towards where he'd heard the grumbling wolf but careful not to make eye contact with him.

[DragonSong]

Brenna nodded happily. "Snowfur convinced him," she said with a smile, eyes glinting a bit. Carelessly, as easily as she might do to one of the wolves, she reached up and ran her fingers through his hair, humming contentedly at the softness.

Dropping her hand, she practically bounced on the balls of her feet and half skipped a few paces away, then came back, her movements mimicking anxious canine pacing. "We go now?" she said eagerly, shifting from foot to foot.

[Juno]

"Oh," he murmured distractedly, stunned that she was already reaching out and touching his hair again. It left him a little flustered, a bit of color rising to his cheeks for the brief moment of affection. It was over quickly, though, and he watched her bounding away in her odd ritual of pacing.

"Yes, we can go," he agreed, chuckling softly as he turned to walk with her. Once they were a little ways from the den and on their way to follow his tracks back to his own home he turned to ask, "Did you use any of the...gifts?"

[DragonSong]

Falling into step beside him, Brenna nodded. "The blanket was nice," she said with a smile, both for his gift and for the ease that language was now coming. "Not real cold enough for another coat yet." She tugged on the sleeve of her ragged, hand-stitched coat. She didn't quite get the concept of exchanging one for the other, assuming she had to wear the coat he'd given her over the one she already had.

Which would certainly keep her warmer when winter really set it. The though sparked another grateful smile she turned in his direction. "You are very kind," she said slowly, carefully. "Thank you."

[Juno]

He was pleased to know that she'd actually used the blanket, though her words about the coat were a little confusing. "Another coat?" he mused quietly, shaking his head slightly as they walked. He could clarify another time.

Her words of such genuine thanks had his chest swelling a bit with pride. "Have to look out for our own," Christopher explained, gesturing between them. "Humans do that, and you're my neighbor now." It was a bit more than that, though he wasn't sure if he should admit what he felt privately about the situation. The last thing he wanted her to think was that people would only help her in a situation like theirs.

[DragonSong]

"Neighbor," Brenna repeated. She smiled a bit, shaking her head. "Never had those before. House was all alone..." She trailed off, frowning, as she remembered the consequences of that isolation. When her mother fell ill, her father had been planning to go for a doctor- but then he got sick, and what was she supposed to do? She'd been five years old.

She shook herself briskly, shoving the thoughts away. "Like having a neighbor," she decided, looking at Christopher while her lips twitched up on one side into a crooked sort of smile.

[Juno]

He really did like her smile. She seemed so genuinely happy to be talking about such a simple thing. Christopher chuckled under his breath, kicking at the snow a bit as he walked along to distract himself. "Not as close as humans keep theirs, but... Still neighbors."

The shifter pointed out ahead once they were near enough to see the entrance. "See that? It's there." He picked up the pace a bit, probably a little too eager to welcome a new acquaintance to his home. Once he reached the door he pushed it open and hung back partially in the doorway to keep it open for her. "It's not very much," he apologized in advance. "Still a good home, though."

[DragonSong]

Brenna had to exercise some will power not to race ahead when he pointed out his home, eager to get a closer look. Yet when he opened the door for her and stood aside she hesitated, not quite sure what to expect.

A little warily, she crept forward and poked her head inside. Eyes widening, she moved further in, looking around in a combination of curiosity and wonder.

Spinning to face Christopher, she darted forward and grabbed his hand, pulling him inside. "Show me," she begged, gesturing at all the newness around her with wide, sparkling eyes.

[Juno]

Watching the way she looked around he found himself holding his breath just waiting to hear what she thought of it all. Her request was met with a kind, understanding smile for her amazement.

Christopher let her pull him in and shut the door behind them. Where should he even start? "Well, here's where I keep my boots and coats. And there's a table. Fire. Food. Bath. And bed." He pointed to each area with his free hand. "Do you...like it?"

[DragonSong]

Did she like it? A wide grin spread across Brenna's face and she nodded. "Yes, I like it. It's..." She searched for a word. "Warm," she finally decided.

Then she frowned. "Not- not like hot warm. Heat warm. Something else..." She gritted her teeth in frustration, unable to figure out the words to convey her sentiment. "I like it," she said finally, admitting defeat to her limited vocabulary.