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Riverpaw whimpered in confusion, trying to drag her feet so she couldn't be pulled, but Tsunami pushed her along with her head.
The Fantasy Tavern
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“River paw, you’re first. Come on, go sing!” Zephen said, pushing her towards the stage.
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Riverpaw turned around and pushed against them, trying not to cry. "Nononononono-!" She suddenly ducked down and shifted into her tiny brown wolf form, taking the chance to bolt out.
“Oh shit…..! Cal stay here!” Zephen dashed after her
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"Yeah i am not going up either."
Zephen ran after river paw, stopping in the alley where she cowered.
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Riverpaw whined and curled into a ball, her tail going around her body. "I-I don't wanna!" She cried through her fur.
“River, I am so sorry! Listen, I just wanted you guys to have some fun, live a little. I shouldn’t have pushed you. Ugh! How do I say this….I don’t want you to be me. When I was captured, I was forced into society after years in the forest. People were ruined for me. I just didn’t want that to happen to you,”
“I never stay with someone in a relationship for more than a day, I don’t make friends. Relationships were ruined for me. I don’t want that to happen to you, but I shouldn’t force it on you.” And, for a second, Zephen’s party girl/social butterfly disguise melted away.
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Riverpaw took a few deep breaths, trying to calm herself. She sniffed, peeking from under her tail. "I-I was taken in by the guardians o-of my forest after…m-my pack was killed by h-hunters. Th-this is why I don't like leaving the f-forest; humans, most creatures, terrify me. I-I know Tsunami tries to help, a-and you were too, b-but…I'm still technically in training, a-and…I don't feel l-like I'm ready for this stuff."
“God, Riverpaw, I’m so sorry. I had no idea. No wonder youre shy.” Zephen felt stupid, and slumped against the wall
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Riverpaw nodded, sitting up slowly. She hated talking about it, every time she even thought about it, her mind would go back to the images of her pack's territory burned down, dozens of bodies, wolves and human forms, scattered around. Her mother's body was there.. She shook her head, exhaling shakily. "I-it's okay.." She mumbled, mostly to herself.
“No, it’s not. Let’s go. We’ll go back to the tavern. Come on,” Zephen said.
Zephen ducked back into the bar, and told Calix to meet them at the tavern.
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Calix met them at the tavern and he was cleaning the counter.
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Riverpaw kept her eyes on her pale blue forepaws as she walked up to Zephen. Tsunami poked her head around the corner, eyeing them worriedly. "W-we're fine, Tsuna." Riverpaw assured her, burying her nose in the wolf's fur.
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"Hey you two."
“Hi. Look, I’m sorry I pushed you. We aren’t the same people, I should have seen that”
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"Mhm." he realized he got a text and looked down at his phone.
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Tsunami huffed at him, narrowing her eyes, and Riverpaw nudged the wolf's leg. Still in her wolf form, she jumped up onto one of the seats, pulling herself up with a bit of struggle, and Tsunami sat down behind her.
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He put a shallow cup of water on the counter in front of her still looking at his phone.
“What’s so intriguing?” Zephen asked.
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"A text, want your usual."
“Actually, no. I’ll have a water,” Zephen said
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Riverpaw closed her eyes and shifted back to her human form, and Tsunami lay her head on top of hers. Riverpaw lifted a hand to pet the side of the wolf's head, taking a sip of her water and watching Zephen and Calix.
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He grabbed a water and gave it to her then finally texted back.
Zephen sipped her water. She would have rather had her usual, but she made a promise to herself. A promise to be better.
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he put his phone down looked up then turned around to get water for himself.
“Who were you texting?” Zephen asked, interested
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"I was texting someone who is a person but not human."