He still so vividly remembered the first time he'd come across the fox, a lone and playful hunter with a pack of wobbling, growling gourds in its wake—the human intelligence in the gaze, the human intelligence in the game, the lack of fear of Rory, and yet, that hesitation. The play had been childish, the uncertainty feral: Rory had treated it like a wary, cautious dog, silently asking for trust and rewarding when it was given. He'd been afraid of scaring the little white canine off that time, and each time he tested another boundary he felt the same fluttering fear in his heart: what if it was too much, too soon?
His extended finger pressed against the cold black nose, rather gently despite the tapping motion of it, and even though he grinned he held his breath as the fox pulled back a little, muzzle wrinkling.
Well. Who wouldn't wrinkle their nose after a boop? Rory was pretty sure he would, too, and if he hadn't been so worried about taking too many freedoms with the fox he would've laughed as the clear blue eyes desperately tried to see what he had done to its poor nose.
But as it came to the conclusion that Rory hadn't done something evil.. the uncertainty seemed to flee again, ears perking up, eyes glittering; Rory felt his smile stretch a little, a quiet laugh escaping into the air as the fox retaliated. Teeth closed on his cuff. "Hey!" Rory protested instinctively, not indignant but rather—surprised? Still smiling bemusedly he let the fox tug him down, curious as to what it wanted.
His extended finger pressed against the cold black nose, rather gently despite the tapping motion of it, and even though he grinned he held his breath as the fox pulled back a little, muzzle wrinkling.
Well. Who wouldn't wrinkle their nose after a boop? Rory was pretty sure he would, too, and if he hadn't been so worried about taking too many freedoms with the fox he would've laughed as the clear blue eyes desperately tried to see what he had done to its poor nose.
But as it came to the conclusion that Rory hadn't done something evil.. the uncertainty seemed to flee again, ears perking up, eyes glittering; Rory felt his smile stretch a little, a quiet laugh escaping into the air as the fox retaliated. Teeth closed on his cuff. "Hey!" Rory protested instinctively, not indignant but rather—surprised? Still smiling bemusedly he let the fox tug him down, curious as to what it wanted.
