Dear Friend (Tagged)

[Blood]

@shiver

Pearl:

*takes place during Growing Seasons of Life*

The walk had started out slow and silent, as little Pearl ambled along side Caesar. Her tiny paws making soft scuffles as they brushed against the grasses or stepped on a leaf, but not a word was spoken. While the silence ruled, Pearl held her head low, the uneasy vibes were real and she could feel a strong nervousness creeping in her gut. Her eyes stared at the passing ground with wide uncertainty, she had done this many times before, going on walks with her mother and father, and even with her older brother, but why did it feel so different with a wolf other than her family. Caesar was a friend, but she still felt a layer of awkwardness that needed to go.

Pearl looked up suddenly at the large male beside her, her head barely reaching his shoulders as she peered into his eyes, desperate for his gaze to be returned. It hurt to see her friend in such a depressed state, even his posture was sloped and devoid of it’s usual pride and bravery. The gentle female thought she’d start off like she always would with her family, addressing them father, mother, or brother, but where did Caesar fit in that. She could call him brother, for he was a brother as a wolf, but that didn’t sound right, and he might take it differently. Calling him mate wasn’t even an option, for she assumed they were far from being such partners, and she thought Caesar might get turned off by that. Pearl finally decided on a title and let out a deep sigh before she began.

“Dear friend, would you please tell me what troubles you?” Her voice was soft and filled with a deep concern that glinted in her silvery eyes. Her lip parted as she waited for his reply. The nervous feeling still lingered, and Pearl wondered why. Could it be that Caesar maybe didn’t trust her enough to share his troubles, or maybe he thought she wasn’t as wise or learned to completely understand what he was dealing with. Her lip quivered ever so slightly before she bit it to keep it still, trying to stay strong. Both of them had already been through so much, there was a connection growing between the two of them that Pearl couldn’t bear to break off. She wanted to be there for him, to stand by his side whenever trouble arose, to be his encourager when life brought gloomy days. But did he appreciate her as she did him?

[tovaana]

Caesar;

As they walked in silence, his mind churned with thoughts. Pearl was willing to listen, but would she understand? Or better yet, care? He kept his eyes to the ground, no more than a few feet ahead of him so he wouldn’t run into anything. The soft padding of the small female next to him was soothing and somewhat eased the chaos in his mind. The noise in his head was still there, but it was as if they had reassembled into one language, instead of dozens of tones that had been clouding his thoughts. He let out a slow breath and glanced toward Pearl, he had intended to avoid her gaze, but she had used the word friend.

His duo gaze lifted to find her silvery gaze that glittered in the sunlight. His own silver and ash brown threaded fur shifted in the light, but nothing compared to her gaze that he had learned to trust.

“I would…and will.” He murmured thoughtfully, still musing over her calling him her friend. They were, weren’t they? Friends? It seemed too quaint, but he couldn’t seem to think past it.

As he looked on her flower colored face he noticed a worry of her own flutter to her features. His own worries seem to pause as he looked at her.

“But, are you okay?” Besides, he’d much rather discuss Pearl, than his own problems.

[Blood]

Pearl;

Her heart leaped when his gaze was finally returned, and for a moment of staring into his eyes it almost seemed as if all of her previous worries had vanished from existence. Lost in his wonderful presence, in those exotic eyes that made her feel so protected and secure. But when he spoke, his voice was still empty of confidence, still missing the deep assertive tone and it almost seemed doubtful. Did he not trust her to be able to handle what he had to say? Did he not trust her as a friend? As a companion? What did he mean by this reply? What did he yet have to say?

Even with her eyes looking steadily up at Caesar's with expectancy, her mind was looking in a hundred different directions. Every direction seemed wrong, but what if they were true.

When Caesar finally finished what he was saying, Pearl let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. What he said answered zero of her questions, but what surprised her the most was that he had turned the question around on her. She had been expecting to hear something like him telling her what was on his mind and troubling him, or him saying that he didn't want to talk about it, or something worse. But no, he was genuinely more concerned about how she was felling than about himself. Pearl blinked and had to look away as she stuttered to refocus her mind on what he had actually asked.

"Uh, um me?" She could feel her cheeks getting warm. Was it from embarrassment, or was it blushing? She couldn't tell. "I am..." Pearl began, but she couldn't finish. Her mind was still trying to process what she should say and how and what, and everything else. Was she okay?

"Caesar," She began slowly, looking back up at him, not carrying if her cheeks still showed a little emotion. "I have grown to enjoy your company since we have been acquainted, and all of these many days we have spent in each other's presence. I have become familiar with your personality in friendship, and I can say that I have noticed a change in you since we first met." She flinched slightly. Was it noticeable outwardly, or was it just in her mind as she scrambled to put together the next sentence? She couldn't tell. "It is not a bad change, it has just brought some concern to me. Not much. But I just wanted to let you know that if you every need to talk about anything, I will always be here to listen." With the final words out in a rush, she pulled her lips back in a gentle smile, wondering how his mind was processing. Would he appreciate her offer, or would he just shrug it off his shoulder? Did he feel the same way towards her, or did he only see her as a companion to keep him company?

[tovaana]

Caesar;

She was worried about…him? He blinked at her, having to look away for a moment as she spoke as not to be too distracted. The male didn’t look away for long though, for now it seemed like his eyes were magnetized toward her, unable to let them fall away for too long. At first she seemed flustered as he turned the question on her and then she said his name. His heart thrummed at the sound and tried to thoughtfully consider her rambling sentence. It was hard to pinpoint where she was going; but he let her words flutter around his thoughts and touch what they may.

He felt embarrassed, defensive, and deflated; all in turn. He felt embarrassed from his thoughts that had questioned her intentions – of course she cared. He saw and heard the way she cared in the way she was treating and talking to him. Defensive feelings whirled lazily when she told him he had changed…as he wasn’t sure if she meant change in a positive or negative manner, that feeling quickly diminished and never saw the light of day on his façade. His head lowered a little as in the end of her speaking he felt a little deflated, but he lifted it again as he tried to force himself to remember that Pearl was having this conversation because she cared and wanted to help.

A soft smile played at his lips. He leaned forward and touched her briefly on the shoulder as they walked. “So, your concern is about me.” He stated, rather than asked. His smile faltered a little as he mused on that, “I’d rather you not trouble yourself over me… but I’m honored to have you as a friend…” He nearly bit the last word, swallowing and clearing his throat quietly. He had noticed that she had challenged the notion of them being simply friends, and he intended to discuss that with her on a later note. He wanted to dispel her worry; though he feared that telling her his worries wouldn’t do the trick.

“Do you like stories?” He paused, his half smile returned, but his face was slightly strained from the anxiety of finally speaking of the terror of his past. “I’m afraid it isn’t a pleasant one…” He continued with a sigh, finding that Pearl’s searching gaze was more comforting than it was accusing. “My, uh…brother, he seemed to trigger my memories. Our story though, hopefully has a better ending than beginning.” He managed to muster a little more gusto behind his gentle smile, searching Pearl to see if she was truly up to the challenge.