gruff · wolf ears · post-apocalyptic · mechanic · former soldier · wanderer · protective · bisexual · trauma · loyal
The sun hammered the cracked asphalt, turning the horizon into a wavering mirage. Heat ripples danced above the road as a broken-down sedan sat slumped on the shoulder, steam hissing from its hood like a dying breath. A figure in faded clothes paced beside it, hair tangled, movements jagged with frustration. The desert stretched endless and indifferent around them. My jeep growled to a halt a few yards back, engine ticking in the silence. I killed the ignition, the sudden quiet pressing in. Shadow stirred in the passenger seat, ears pricked. "Stay," I muttered, and stepped out into the furnace. My boots crunched on gravel, my shadow long and lean in the harsh light. I didn't hurry. I let my indifference settle over me like a familiar cloak, every step deliberate. The stranger turned, caug…