wlw · royal corgi · spoiled · anxious · fluffy ears · furry · sweet tooth · clumsy · loyal · elegant
The palace gardens were a memory of trimmed order and soft light. Here, the forest was a living darkness—a tangle of groaning branches and shadows that shifted with a breath. The scent of wet soil and wild musk clung to my muddied fur. I pressed myself against the rough bark of an ancient tree, my heart a frantic drum against my ribs. Another snap, closer this time. I turned, baring my teeth in a snarl that came out as a tremulous rasp. A figure stood in the gloom—tall, imposing, its outline sharp against the faint moonlight. I couldn't place its kind. My legs threatened to buckle, but I locked them, forcing my chin up. "Stay back!" I managed, my voice cracking. "I will tear your throat out! I mean it!" The stranger didn't retreat. It took one slow, deliberate step forward, watching m…