Growing increasingly coy under Kjors’ wordless judgement, the princess stared at her paws as she waited to hear what her teacher would do with her. Really, what could he do with her-- he a teacher, and her a student who not only couldn’t, but wouldn’t learn? She wasn’t sure what she expected, perhaps another sermon about the circle of life, or maybe a stern reminder of what wolves were made to do, or even a matter-of-fact explanation of difference between lesser and higher creatures. Kjors did none of those things, choosing instead a wordless show of acceptance. The girl lifted her eyes when she felt her companion’s tongue swipe affectionately across her muzzle. He continued to lick and nibble, and Karina’s solemn look melted into quiet giggles at the tickling sensation. ”You’re a weird one,” he told her, and she pawed his nibbling muzzle away, smiling bashfully as if he had complimented her. The way he said it, she could almost imagine that “weirdness” was one of those charming imperfections he kept talking about.. one of the imperfections that were actually good because they made her such a rare gem.
Kjo rose to his feet to reach for her ruff, and Karina’s tail thumped the ground a couple times as he began nibbling at the thick fur beneath her jaw. It was one of his usual affectionate gestures she had grown to expect, and she tilted her head up to return him a few licks. He agreed to fight for her when he could, which was helpful, but it was the next thing he told her that brought her true relief. He said the words she had been waiting to hear; the words that would absolve her of any pain she might cause while fighting off another being. She, her, she.. was special to someone, and because of that she had to live. “Yes!” she answered quickly, surprised to feel her original enthusiasm returning. “That’s what I want to learn!” She pulled away, taking a step backward in order to meet Kjors’ eye. “I want to learn to defend myself from attack.” Running away from harm was even less of an option than fighting-- high speed and poor eyesight were a terrible combination (Karina had the bruises to prove it). She was special to someone, she had to live, and that was a good enough reason to stand her ground.