[mariah?!]

"Oh, my apologies. It seems that somehow or another, you received the impression that I actually care?" The wyvern's grin was widening, exposing more and more of the frightening teeth that lay just behind his scaly lips. "Let's clear things up, shall we?"

And Israfel would've. He would've done it without a shred of remorse and walked away happy .. except the rings of muscle enveloping his tail were stronger than he'd initially anticipated and the option of "clearing things up" faded into impossibility, leaving in its wake a vague feeling of disappointment and .. relief?

Tch. His eyes narrowed, forming dangerous slits as he uttered an irritated snarl, allowing the guttural vibrations to gather low in his chest and seep out through his maw. How annoying. Apparently human nature and all its frustrating, unnecessary complexities was contagious and someone had neglected to inform him of it.

"Are you going to run when I release you?" Israfel inquired curiously, touching his snout to Svara's pert nose. "What is your name, little one?"

Goddamnit, was this tenderness–!?