For his part, if the Flagellant thought anything was off about the dire wolf, he did not show it. Normally bloodied hands had been cleaned by order of the sanitariumâs nurses, and for once he was glad for it, because now he felt the soft fur against his hands, the powerful muscles beneath them.
âForgive me, kind one, but are you perhaps lost?â He had half a mind to bury his face in her fur and smell, just to have the scent of something clean and healthy and living.
Everyone in the Hamlet and the surrounding acres were already rotting, even if they didnât know it yet. The best they could do is make sure this plague did not spread.
The manâs movements faltered for a moment and his breath hitched before he pulled his hands back reluctantly. Thatâs right. Even if he was fresh from the sanitarium, he was still, by very nature, a carrier of this virulent corruption, this maddening disease. His fingers twitched as he fought the desire to pet the wolf once more.
âIâŚâ He hesitated for a moment. âForgive me, kind one. Your beauty, your purity⌠it distracted me from my plight. For a moment, I forgot all but your presence. Ironic, isnât it? Youâd think I wouldnât notice anything at all, but your radiance is enough to light up even my dim eyes.â He pointed to the bloodied bandages surrounding his long since broken eyes.
âThis land is sick and diseased. It is not safe for you here. Even if it hasnât spread to your home yet⌠it will. I urge you, kind one, please leave before the same plague that has taken every living thing here takes you too.â
She allowed him to continue petting, deciding that it couldnât hurt just to let him do something that made him happy. Rinnahâs mouth opened wide as she yawned, a little sound escaping at the end of it. The wolfâs head then tilted when he asked her a question. It was quite obvious that she was no dog. The concern on his part was rather confusing, not understanding why he would ask such a thing.
Rinnahâs eyes narrowed slightly as he stopped, though not out of disappointment. It was much more concerning, his sudden guilt and reluctance. A contemplative noise rumbled in her throat before she stepped closer. The man was much too troubled for her to leave. Brows furrowed, and she kept staring at him contemplatively. What was the skin changer to do? There was only so long that one could tolerate staying in one form, but she didnât want to upset the man further.
After a few moments of difficult consideration, the wolf was no longer standing before him. Instead, now, there was a young woman.
âAs if I had to worry about any human disease, or one of the beastsâ, for that matter.â Rinnah pouted softly, âPerhaps you should leave hereâŚseeing as you find it so horrible, instead of forcing yourself to stay. ForâŚwhatever that reason is.â