“It’s me,” he called out softly.
Silence. Then a shadow moved forward, closer to the area he scraped and stayed there, waiting expectantly. The lack of hesitation had him softening, his chest puffing out in triumph. He cleared his throat.
“You were very busy today. It was nice to see. I guess you are in good condition now and…adjusting to us.”
She tapped the tent in agreement. He pondered, memories resurfacing, then vanishing.
“I’m also guessing that it means that incident has happened to you before; otherwise, you won’t bounce back this easily.”
Another tap, another confirmation. She was ready. That much he knew, but the extent was still to be determined. Quietly, Nico sifted through the multitude of questions swirling in his head.
“Wolf shifter, right?”
Another tap.
“But something went wrong and you can’t turn now. And it’s hurting you every time the full moon comes out.”
The silence made him assume she wasn’t going to answer anymore. But he was taken aback when a voice, soft and low, came out.
“Yes.”
Nico reared back, unprepared for the word and how clearly it was said. He looked around, surmising they were still alone. His fingers brushed the tent, wanting to express how much it meant to him.
“Does it have something to do with your past? With what you left behind?”
“Yes.”
“Is it also why you can’t speak fully?”
“Yes.”
“On the next full moon…will it be the same?”
Silence. His fingers retreated, assuming he pushed too far. But then her hand returned to press against the space he had left behind.
“It’s always the same.”
The hand retreated shortly. His fingers ached to connect to it, but something told him it wasn’t the right time yet.
“I will be ready when the next full moon comes out,” he promised, unable to give her much assurance. But he could give her that, and he hoped it was enough.
Nico left her alone during the day, busy with the clan’s demands and the switch between sun and rain as whatever had plagued the city was still causing trouble. But he was back outside Anne’s tent every time his shift was over, a routine that included avoiding most people to avoid unnecessary queries.
“Peachy has been here the whole week, and Michael keeps watching over her. It’s always interesting to watch because she is so determined to ignore him while he is so determined to do his duty.” He leaned against a rock he had found at the back of her tent, the perfect spot to remain hidden and close. “I don’t know if it’s because he’s stubborn and refuses to abandon that duty, but I didn’t see him go out. Usually, he’s out on dates, but lately, his attention is on her. I feel like there’s some unresolved tension there, and they don’t know how to deal with it. Have you witnessed anything like that before?”
Her quiet tap solidified his suspicion that she had hung out with peers before. Again, he didn’t push.
“The rain’s back, and a few are on edge about it. It’s not so much because it’s building into a storm but more because the source is undetermined,” he shared the next night. “Have you ever encountered Fae before other than Daria?”
“No.”
The immediate answer had him straightening, then resettling on his spot. He looked up, searching for the clear sky between leaves covering their area. He wondered and decided to test it out.
“What do you think of her?”
Silence.
“Nice.”