Chapter Twenty-Two

She found herself quickly getting up and pulling Cyro back into the chair. She wanted to cheer him up and understand what was bugging him. She sat on his lap, a small grin spreading on his face. She picked up a berry from the plate and offered it to him. When he reached for it she quickly pulled it back. Grinning mischievously at him. He gave her a look then opened his mouth. She slowly placed the berry on his tongue, feeling his teeth graze the tip of her fingers. She repeated this five more times. Each time his mood seemed to get better.

"So, tell me what's bothering you." She picked up another berry, withholding it for his answer.

"Why do you want to know?" He looked away from her and back at the door.

"Because your obviously worried about something." She used her spare hand to pull his face back to her. "Do I need to be worried?"

"Ahhh," she could tell it was eating him up inside ad he looked away again. "It's these damn foxes." She patiently wait for him to continue, a bad feeling slowly developing in her stomach. "Remeber how I said not to trust Alzie? Well let's just say the tangerine tribe is worse."

Miras stomach sank as her feeling of safe lessened. She was sure Cyro would and could protect her, but the fact that she would even need protection. Were the beasts really that set on harming her? She didn't want to think about it anymore instead she got up and grabbed Cyros hand. He tried to object as she pulled him out the door. Instead she wanted to explore. She led him outside onto what seemed like a make shift porch. She had contemplated going out the back door, but figured she'd save that for later. She wanted to see the tribe and how different they were from Cyro's. Before they could make out the front door, Cyro pulled her back. Her hands slipping free of the wood. She looked up at him confused, a look of sadness on his face. He continued to pull her up a flight of stairs. Which did lead to a bridge outside, going from one building to the other. But he rushed her across so quickly she barely got a glance.

She didn't know what was making Cyro act so strange but she knew she needed to find out. Candles and lanters seemed to be the only light in this place. She waved as they passed by a female fox, her tail twitching a bit. He stopped when they reached a door and pulled her through it. The sound of the door closing echoed behind her as she looked around the room. Against the wall to her left was a giant bed. It was made of birch wood and straw. To her right was a wooden square box, no doubt for clothing. A window, with red curtains, was covering eighty percent of the wall. It was a very nice room, but not worth dragging her around like that. She turned on her heels to face Cyro.

"Okay, now let's go outside." She tried to open the door, but he wouldn't move. "Cyro! What has gotten into you?"

"You can't go outside, I'm sorry." He wouldn't meet her gaze and just stood there.

She could her heart being to race as panick took her. The loss of control choking her. She backed away a few steps trying to breath.

"Cyro, you open that door." She choked out. "You open it now."

"If you go outside they will mock you and stare at you like some weird discovery." He still refused to budge. "There's not telling what they'll do."

"Cyro," she felt the bed hit her legs and sat down. " If you don't open that door."

Her breathing was getting worse, parts of her body going numb. She couldn't think, her chest once again hurting. She was having a panick attack. Cyro tried to move to her, but she moved further on to the bed. She didn't want to be touched by him anymore.

"Alright, I'll open the door."

She watched as he pulled it open. Her breathing coming back and her heart slowing down. She placed a hand to her chest, relieved. She didn't want to feel helpless like she did back then. Never would she allow someone to control her again either. She got up and walked out the door. She didn't care that he followed, she just needed out of that room. She made her way back the way they came. Only to stop on the bridge they had passed across. The tribes village was beautiful. The setting sun casting and orange glow over everything They had used trees and old buildings to create their homes. Then used the red and orange fabrics to decorate everything. Red and orange seemed to be a common color here. She felt Cyro's arm brush hers, his scales shining in the light. She felt guilty and stupid for how she reacted earlier. Lifting him arm, she nuzzled herself into his chest. It was the only way she knew how to apologize. His arms wrapped around her while his chin rested on her head. They stayed like that as they watched the sunset. She couldn't help but feel a sense of uneasiness as the returned to the room. Alzie was no where in sight, she was sure he probably was still healing from his injury.

Instead of sleeping she pulled out her sketch book and sat in the window. She did have a small candle going for light as she sketched Cyro. She tried her best to capture every detail of him while he slept. She couldn't believe someone could sleep so still and quiet. She would need to find a new way of coping with her emotions, if everything was going to be affecting her so harshly. Her mind raced with past experiences. The only to silence that was painting and drawing. For now Cyro would be her muse. She would love to paint him standing on that bridge. Capturing the beauty of the colors shining from his scales. The night went by quicker than she had expected. She was making the last finishing touches on her sketch when a knocked came from their door. Startled she looked up as Cyro began to stretch. She crept to the door and pulled it open. Alzie stood there, as intimidating as ever.

"Tell Cyro is breakfast time and to meet in the dinning area." He seemed harsher today. Like she had somehow angered him.

"Okay, I think he's waking up now if you want to come in." She stepped back pulling the door further open.

He seemed tempted at first, but just shook his head and left. It was getting harder to read Alzie and Cyro. She felt that with their time spent together it should be easier. She closed the door and made her way to Cyro, who was now sitting up. She hoped on his lap and giggled when he nuzzled her neck. She could feel herself beginning to grow too attached to this place. She should be returning home. Did she even want to returned home anymore? She pushed the thought away as the both headed out the door. She silently hoped they had things like bacon and eggs. How she missed bacon so much. The thought made her mouth water and she had to use her arm to whipe it. There were more foxes about as Cyro lead her too the dinning area. They all started at her with yellow piercing eyes. She ducked behind Cyro, suddenly feeling very insecure. Cyro had stopped to ask if she wanted to go back, but she insisted on going to the dinning area.