It was in her nature to be timid. Always she was cautious when among others. Experience taught her that no one would be trusted and so she did her best to protect herself from any and all threats. The soft growl that rumbled within her throat spoke of warning, even though she had no way in overpowering her spotted feline friend, and so her growl didn't carry as much of a threat as his own. His deeper growl, and continued touched, only reassured her inability to protect herself should he attack. Although she was not pack, he had forced her to roll on her back, the universal submissive sign that still had an effect on her. Half her mind was an animal and she had to respect nature's law, whether she was pack or not, he had won and he was entitled to be above her. It wasn't fair, but there wasn't a thing she could do to change it. As his rough fingers continued to trace her old scars along her wrists her form remained stiff as goose bumps appeared on her flesh. Although his touch was intrusive it was also peculiarly soft and gentle, almost inviting, and she was enjoying it. That pat only allowed her to relax even more by this gentle touch, feeling his grip loosen slightly, allowing her hand to stay there and let him touch her. As she reached for his fingers to move up farther, allowing him this opportunity to feel and see a few more scars, if only to help him understand how they were caused. Gloomy eyes noticed a glimmer of understanding in the depths of his dark eyes, whispered words confirming his inquiry.

"Yes, my pack would hurt me."

It was the flash of gold with a fiery intensity that simply caught her off guard. Why he needed to know where they were she did not know, but there whereabouts were not important. Why would anyone need to know where the territory of her old pack was? Her sister pack had taken over those lands, and although she owned the land through blood, that right was taken away from her when she was just a pup. Her hand would gently grab his hand, her fingers interlacing through his, giving the boy a wary look. She hated thinking about her past and speaking about it just didn't help her either. Raven wasn't quite sure whether he would want to stay friends with her or not, but she wanted to remember his touch should he want to leave her, and that was why she held his hand...but also for some support. Steel blue-grey eyes locked onto to his dark eyes, finding those sparks of gold quite comforting, supplying him the information he wanted.

"My pack is dead...I killed them...it was an accident, but I'm safe now...I have you."

A shy smile would etch itself on her pink lips. It wasn't like her to lie, there was no need to, and honesty was such an important virtue she held so dear. It was difficult for her to trust others, but she was trying. Tobi was the first individual she attempted to trust and she was grateful that she had done so. His companionship was something she treasured, just as Alexis, Isolt's, and even that witch girl she was a familiar for. Tobi was her first friend, her closest friend and she hoped that her brutal honesty and dark secret wouldn't make him run away. Being in his company she felt safe and it wasn't just because he kept her from being harmed by hunters. He protected her at night when he slept at her side, the terrible memories never surfaced when he was around. But she didn't like him just because she felt safe in his presence, there were other reasons, and they were slowly forming an attachment to him that she didn't see, but could feel even if she couldn't name it. It was when he spoke about sex did the girl's smile fade. All she felt now was a sharp pang in her chest as he spoke about having sex in the pack. Connecting the dots she realized it must have been Nadya. It was the shake of his head and the denial that Nadya was not his mate that caused her to simply stare and tilt her head with confusion. That Nadya was not his mate, and yet they had sex, complicated her understanding on the matter. Though she felt what almost seemed like hope appear in her chest at this realization, a small part of her carrying such a suggestive thought, that maybe...she had a chance. But it was his explanation on the matters of how he would engage in sex with Nadya that simply shocked and frightened her. If they were not mates, and if the sex was done through anger...did that mean the sex wasn't consensual? It was a touchy subject and a road she did not want to travel, in fact, she wanted to forget that he ever had engaged in that activity with the young woman in the first place. Shaking her head her voice would soften, but held a subtle firmness to it, as she paused every now and then, to make sure he understood, not lecturing him but giving him an understanding. Her hand would gently reach out for his, her thumb gently brushing along his wrist, mimicking in a way what he did to her wrist earlier.

"No...when you have sex with someone you aren't supposed to be angry at one another. You have sex with your mate when, you trust them completely, when you want to show them how much you love them, it is supposed to be fun...no one should be angry at the other...you should be happy together."

Raven wasn't sure Tobi would understand, but she hoped he had a glimpse of some form of understanding. Sex was not meant to be a violent act. Both individuals were supposed to get something pleasing in return. Why she thought this way could only be from what she understood in science books from school. Even with such a horrible pack education was at least one good thing she received. As the boy moved to lie on his back and place his head in her lap she would shift her form in a comfortable position. Soft fingers would gently caress one of his roughed hands at a time, her fingers stroking his claws in a smooth manner, not afraid that he would hurt her. Her other hand would start to stroke his head, moving along his skull to his ears, and running her fingers gently through his dark hair, easily detangling them in such a manner where he wouldn't feel pain. Her head would tilt down to look at him, pleased to see a look of content on his young façade. Her own mauled face held a mixture of content and gratitude, glad to hear they were not mates, happy to hear they would not be engaging such activities, but also pleased to see her friend looking quite happy. The idea that a pack was family was a wondrous thing to her. To know that there was a possibility that she could belong somewhere, that she could be taken care of...but also help take care of others was a delightful possibility that had a nice ring to it. Always she wanted to feel like she belonged somewhere and the opportunity was just something that was far too difficult to resist. As the boy continued to lie still, content with her soft touch, she noticed some of his tangled dark hair covering his eyes, gently her hand that was stroking his head, would move towards his face, gently taking the hair out of his eyes, as her own looked directly into his, that shy smile from before returning once more with her cheeks turning a slight shade of pink.

"I don't like being touched either, but...maybe I can let you touch me...so long as you don't hurt me, because I'm trying to trust you....and I like you too."

Her hand that stroked his face would return to the top of his head, as her fingers scratched behind his black leopard ears. While everything else in the world was going crazy, with police running about and dark hunters lurking in the neighborhood for the beast that killed one of their own, none could trample on the scene of serenity in this house.

I'd Rather Feel Pain Then Nothing At All

Raven