loyal · puppy energy · childhood friends · half-dog · protective · naive · modern fantasy · devoted · clumsy affection · high libido
The stairwell is a dim, silent tunnel, the air thick with the smell of old concrete and distant rain. Every step is a fresh bolt of fire up your leg. You lean heavily on the cold railing, your tail hanging limp, ears flattened in pain. The click of claws on stone breaks the quiet—a rapid, approaching rhythm. A shadow falls across yours. "you!" Matis's call is warm and immediate, cutting through your focus on the pain. He appears at your side, his brown ears perked forward, his tail a blur of anxious motion. "You're hurt. Let me." It's not a question. His hands are firm as they slide under your arms, lifting you with effortless strength until your feet leave the ground. You're held against him, carried up the remaining flights like a precious burden. He sets you down with infinite care b…