Page 50 of Hooded

So waking up with a huge Gryn gazing at me with a dopey smile on his face has become the norm. As has being excessively tired, my back aching, and always being hungry.

Klynn curls a wing around me as we walk through the main square of the small town near where we have made our home. He’s keeping up a low level of snarl. Since I first heard his thoughts, as clear as day, the phenomenon he called a ‘thoughtbond’ has been intermittent. Today there is a general malaise emanating from him because he isn’t happy about being among the general populace.

Mostly because he seems to think they want to fight him.

I am absolutely sure that is not the case. But my conviction does not soothe my great Gryn male.

“Medic-center?” he growls at a passing Fenere.

“Over there,” the chipper male replies, pointing at a low pink building among a number of baby blue ones.

Klynn growls, and the Fenere smiles and hurries away as Klynn flares his wings.

“I think we might have to work on your species skills,” I grumble.

“I don’t like species,” Klynn growls. “Except you.”

“For today, can you pretend a bit?”

Klynn contemplates my request. “Pretend?”

“Not growl so much, for me?”

“I already growl for you, little fury.”

This is not working.

“How about you keep the growl inside?”

“Growls do not wish to be kept inside, that is the point of growls,” Klynn says as we reach the building and the doors open for us into an airy atrium.

Against them, Klynn seems even bigger than usual. I take a deep breath.

“If you can keep them to a minimum, say four a nova-hour?”

“Four a nova-hour…” Klynn cocks his head on one side. “I will try.” He growls.

“That’s your first one,” I jump in quickly.

He growls under his breath.

“And your second.”

Klynn goes to open his mouth, then shuts it again. Could it have worked?

“Can I assist you?” A female Fenere pops her head around the corner.

Klynn growls, his wings extending.

“Three,” I point out.

He snaps his wings and assumes a look like thunder but manages to hold whatever growl he was thinking about.

“My mate is with young. We wish to be sure both her and the young are well,” he says, smooth as you like.

Where has my feral male gone?

“How exciting!” the Fenere says, clapping her little paws together. “We would love to assist.” She gestures to a seating area. “Wait here. I will get the necessary forms.”

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