Family
Shame:
By Princess
Alexandria
Chapter 3: I Kissed a Girl
(inspired by the song by Katy Perry)
1990
Corrine carefully packed up the books she’d ‘borrowed’ from the shop. Una hadn’t been willing to lend them to her, and Corrine had found that intriguing. Corrine glanced around at the shelves of her office and felt a bit of pride that she had what was starting to be a magic collection. She stared down at the last of the three books she had to sneak back into the shop with some regret. She was sure she’d almost had it, but she couldn’t keep the book long enough to be sure. She’d have to ‘borrow’ it again another time.
Una sold theory books and other historical books, but this was a spell book, and those didn’t sit on the shelves for customers who most likely didn’t really believe in magic. Corrine just wanted to know she had the ability to cast one. Not everyone was magically inclined. She did know that Una, and Demona were. Una had an apprentice that was as well. Watching Una explain things to Scottie did give Corrine some half training, which she was eager to try out.
Corrine sighed as she left her office and locked it after her. It wouldn’t do for anyone to walk in and start asking questions. She never told her occasional lovers where she really worked, but a few did get to see where she lived.
Setting the bag on the kitchen table, Corrine hit the button on the answering machine and moved into the kitchen to make dinner.
A woman’s voice filled the room. “Corrine, I waited for you to call, but I guess you lost my number.” The woman’s voice droned on and Corrine sighed as she pulled a can out of the cupboard.
“I didn’t lose it,” She muttered in response to the message. “You were getting a little creepy.” She thought of Michelle and her insistence that they were a couple. Corrine never lied to the women she dated, she was very upfront about the fact that she wasn’t looking for a relationship. After one particularly bad relationship she started to tell women this frequently. Still this was happening, women deciding that they should become a ‘couple’. That was when Corrine stopped calling. Most got the hint, but Michelle was too stupid to get it.
The next message started. “Hey Corrine, I know it’s only been two days, but I was wondering if you’d like to go to a concert with me this Saturday.” The woman’s voice was happy, not irritated, so Corrine listened. It took her a while to realize she wasn’t really sure who it was. “Call me.” Was the unhelpful ending. Corrine sighed. A concert would have been fun. A name or number would have been helpful. Was that Julie? Elisabeth? They both sounded so similar and Corrine didn’t want to call one to find it was the other.
“You don’t know who to call do you?” The slow, accusing voice startled Corrine and she turned to stare at the dark female sitting in her star gazing chair. Katara rolled her eyes. “Casanova has nothing on you Corrine.” Corrine move to hit the button on her answering machine before another message was given and stared at her guest. “Gargoyles mate for life. I never fully understood how different that was from humans.”
“Get off my case.” Corrine muttered and started to look for a can opener. “Any reason you’re breaking into my house? Or did you just come to lecture me about dating.”
“You aren’t a hatchling. You are still playing at dating games, and don’t think I don’t know you mate with them too. I heard interesting sounds a few times I’ve come to visit you.” Katara sounded like a lecturing parent and Corrine thought about telling Katara to wait for Katara’s egg to hatch before she played at momma, but she just grabbed the can opener and started to work on her can of dinner.
“I’m going to put a bell on you kitten.” Corrine muttered, “you sneak around too much.”
“Don’t call me kitten.” Katara spoke, irritation tired in her voice, because Corrine had been annoying her with that nickname for about two years now. It wasn’t likely to stop now. “Seriously thought, Corrine. I worry about you. You are well into your breeding age.” Corrine grimaced at that. “You should find a mate. Even a female one, if that is what you want.”
“You do realize that even with humans, two females don’t produce babies right?” Corrine looked up at her guest, and friend. She didn’t volunteer that she was incapable of that little miracle, and wouldn’t damn another child to her legacy even if she could. “Did you really come here to tell me to settle down, or do you have something real to say?”
“Una went to pull her spell books out a bit early tonight.” Katara stared at her and Corrine felt her heart sink. “I think you’d better return them sooner than later. She’s rather angry.”
“Shit.” Corrine muttered and stared down at her can of chili. For a last meal it lacked a certain something. “How mad?”
“She’s calling you Canmore again.” Katara answered and Corrine felt a little more nervous. The clan had stopped saying that name a few months after Corrine started working at the shop. Corrine always thought it signified she was pushing past her family’s reputation here at least, that they were willing to see her as an individual and not a member of their killers family. “Tell me, were you able to cast at least?”
Corrine grimaced as she remembered the nearly there attempt. “Almost. I swear I felt it start to work, but then it stopped.”
“Any spell in particular?” Katara asked, while moving to look in the innocent looking paper bag Corrine had packed the hundred and fifty year old texts into.
“Nothing interesting.” Corrine muttered, not wanting to share what she’d tried.
“I did that when I was a hatchling too. I didn’t have the skill, but I stole her books and tried a spell or two.” Katara smiled and Corrine felt a little better knowing she wasn’t the first to do that. “Did you read the one that lets the caster foresee their mate?” Corrine could guess it was attempted by the female in front of her. “Perhaps before you return it, you should try that one. It is supposed to tell you what your heart desires, who. Even if you haven’t met him, or in your case, her yet.”
“It has to go both ways.” Corrine dumped her chili into a pot, deciding that it was too late to avoid being caught, so she could avoid being hungry while she was yelled at. “Desiring someone doesn’t mean they want you back.”
Katara stared at her and it made Corrine uncomfortable. “If you knew what you desired, you could stop looking in every females’ pants you find.” Corrine glared at Katara, but that didn’t stop her. “Really, it isn’t hard to find a mate. You aren’t looking the right way.”
“I’m not after a mate. Keep this up and I’ll put that bell on you with a heavy chain and lock so you have to live with it.” Corrine turned the heat on the stove up and shook her head. “I don’t know how you can sleep with the same male every night. I’d get bored in a week. I’m a free spirit, and I have no desire to stop. I do get something out of what I’m doing after all.” Corrine gave Katara an evil smile.
“Una is going to force you to try and cast in front of her, since you stole her book. She forced me to do it skyclad, knowing I had no magical skills.” Katara warned her. “Since you’ll get just one more shot at this, I suggest you pick that spell. Just in case you actually can do it.”
“She wouldn’t,” Corrine started, but then stared in horror at Katara, seeing the truth there. Her eyes traveled down to the clothes covering the female. Skyclad?
“Interested?” Katara teased.
“Not likely furball.” Corrine muttered, looking away. Her blush was embarrassing.
“Prefer gargoyles? Is that why you go through human females like they were out of fashion human footwear?” Katara continued to tease and Corrine’s mind flashed to the Demon. Katara’s voice softened. “Corrine?”
“Drop it.” Corrine snapped and glared at Katara as hard as she could, hating the understanding coming across her friends face.
“If you did that spell I mentioned, do you already know what you’d see? Who?” Katara’s voice was painfully soft and gentle and Corrine hated how her heart sank at the words. She strongly suspected what a spell about her desires would show, and no, it would never happen for her. Never.
“I’m a Canmore, and a human.” Corrine spoke quietly, admitting it to her friend. “I’ll never have what I want. I know how I live my life is…” Her words cut off. “This is my life, and yes, I wish it were different. Ever since I knew what a Canmore was, I wished my life were different. You can’t possibly understand, but please, stop bugging me about this.”
“We always wondered why you were so driven to work with Una.” Katara moved closer and Corrine looked away from her to stare at the cold chili. “You speak so little of your time with Demona, but she scarred your heart all the same didn’t she?”
“I was stupid to think even for a minute.” Corrine muttered. “It’s not her fault, I was a stupid child.”
“And now?” Katara moved closer and pulled Corrine into a furry hug.
“Now I’m older and still stupid.” Corrine hugged her back. “But I can’t settle down like you say, because how could I protect you all then? Any woman would want to know where I work, what I do.”
“Don’t hide behind the clan.” Katara rubbed Corrine’s back. “This has little to do with us, and everything to do with the fact you felt a mate match where it wasn’t. You should talk to Una about this. She’d understand better than any of us. She felt a mate match with Griff, and whatever she may say, he left her for glory because he loved that more.”
“I’m human.” Corrine pulled away, looking down because she felt exposed. “We don’t have mate matches. Remember, we’re promiscuous, and me more than any.”
“Corrine, I’m sorry.” Katara started to speak and Corrine interrupted her.
“I need to eat, I’m sure Una wants to see me sooner rather than later.” Corrine cut the discussion off and Katara finally stopped trying to have it.
“Do you really think the magic responded to you?” Katara spoke and Corrine was grateful for the topic change. Corrine nodded and Katara gave her a small smile. “I remember wishing it would do that for me. Keep trying; maybe you’ll get a spell to work someday. Just remember to return the books before she catches you again.”
……………………………
Corrine almost wished she could repeat her act of tossing items into the store and running as she walked up to the building she’d worked at part time for almost two years. She grinned at that memory and the look she’d likely get from the gargoyles if she tried it today. She was being a bit ridiculous, Corrine admitted to herself and straightened her shoulders as she reached out to open the door.
Her mind flashed on one way to get out of trouble as she stepped inside and saw Leo look up at her. Corrine glanced around and let her body relax and start to vibrate with some excitement she’d been determined to hide before she’d realized she’d been caught. Corrine didn’t see Una in the store, so she moved toward the back and the living spaces.
Una was sitting on her couch with a book in hand and Corrine stood in the doorway a moment watching the older gargoyle. “I think I have the gift.” Corrine leaned against the doorway and watched as Una turned to look at her. Corrine grinned as happily and confidently as she could, trying to disarm the lecture she was going to get. “I felt it, I really think I have the gift.”
Una just stared at her, and Corrine’s grin widened at the slightly shocked look on her face. The gift was a bit rare. Anyone could read out of a spell book, but it would only respond to a few people. “You felt it?” Una asked, and even her voice was a bit shocked.
“Yes, I did.” Corrine bounced just a bit on her feet and hugged the spell books to her chest.
“Well, we’re going to have to test that.” Una said, and there was the hint of irritation in her voice, but Corrine could tell she’d derailed the lecture when all the lecture she got followed. “And you should never take my spell books out of the building. Never touch them without asking again.”
“I really thought I might have the gift. Everything I read fit.” Corrine spoke of the other books she’d read that talked about those with the gift. It was what inspired her ‘borrowing’ the books. Corrine still knew better than to say she had asked and been denied, not now.
“Let’s go to my casting room and see what you can do.” Una spoke and there was a hint of anticipation in her voice. “The clan could use another spell caster.” Corrine had been about to move, but she found herself standing still in shock at Una’s words. Her heart was pounding and as Una turned to look at her, clearly wondering why Corrine wasn’t following Corrine just heard a rush of buzzing in her head. “Corrine?”
“Clan?” Corrine’s voice was quiet and hesitant. Una’s expression softened. “But I’m a...”
“valuable member of my staff, and only clan works for me.” Una interrupted her words gently and moved closer. “The three fold law, you asked about it once. I’ve told you several times since it is only based on your actions. You don’t carry the stain of your family’s name anymore Corrine.” Una moved closer and Corrine still felt shaky. “When I accept you as my new apprentice, I’ll have to go through the clan ceremony with you. I anticipate that no one will challenge your right to that. No one in our clan will claim you have no right to my teachings.” Una moved to touch Corrine’s hand, the one holding the bag of books. “You know enough about magic from working here to know if you truly felt the gift, and I believe you if you say you have it. Believe me when I tell you I know what clan is, and your heritage and species aren’t what makes clan. I know there are gargoyles out there that may disagree, but none here, who you’ve told how to protect themselves, would.”
Gargoyles had made comments about clan before to Corrine, but Corrine hadn’t really let herself think much of it. But a place like this in the clan, it was official, real, and Corrine still felt the buzzing in her ears and her vision was going a little dark. She felt a bit hot, and sort of dizzy. Her body started to sway. Gargoyle hands took a hold of her shoulders and Corrine found herself being seated on the couch. “Are you okay Corrine?”
“It’s just, even my own family.” Corrine muttered, her voice sounding shocked, but her words trailed off. This was more than she’d really ever hoped for. She’d come here seeking redemption and they offered this. Tears started to cloud her vision.
Two days later she was still partly numb from the shock of it all, as she stood on a grassy hill overlooking the ocean, listening to the ceremony. “Our clan has yet another gifted in the art of magic. I am here to claim another for my apprentice, to pass on the skills that have been passed down through the generations, so that they will be there for our future generations.” Corrine’s throat felt tight as she looked up at Una, standing in the center of a circle, her clan surrounding her. Una wore the moonlight like a powerful goddess, looking every bit the clan leader in that moment, and it shimmered off of her elaborate gown. Una held her hand out to Corrine.
Corrine waited just a moment for the protests and even as she walked forward her body was tensed to someone calling out against her. She made it all the way to Una’s side without a word spoken by anyone. She swallowed hard as she turned to look at the clan surrounding her.
“This is my new apprentice, may the clan prosper because of her.” Una rested a hand on her shoulder and spoke more intimately, but not more quietly. “This one will need reassurance often that she is clan.”
“CLAN!” several voices called out and Corrine’s body shook just a bit to hear it. “Corrine of the London Clan!” And just like that, she was given more than the Canmore’s ever gave her. Acceptance. Corrine clenched her fists and silently vowed she’d always do her best to be worthy of this.
Part of her wondered what Demona would think about this. If Demona would be proud of her for having the gift. If Demona would ever look at her and see a member of the London clan and not a Canmore. Corrine closed her eyes and when she reopened them she was resolved to be the best at what she was being given the opportunity to be.
……………………………….
1991
“Hey bookworm.” A soft teasing voice spoke and Corrine looked up from the spell book she was studying to see Scottie leaning against the doorway and smirking at her. The young female had no obvious animal background like the others, no, Scottie had the same colorful skin and flesh wings of the Scottish gargoyles. Corrine stared at her fellow apprentice yet again, as she did often, noticing the similarities to Demona in her, all Scottish gargoyles had some of these features. “I’d ask you to slow down, because it really is unfair that you’re catching up with me because you can work during the day, but Una is so proud of you.”
Scottie was a light green female with brown hair. Her wings were a forest green, and had a single wing finger. She was tall, and muscular. She was also studious when she wanted to be, but she was a double apprentice, as a warrior and a magic user. Corrine strongly suspected that when the time came, Scottie would be named the next leader of this clan. It would be years in the future, perhaps beyond the short lifespan Canmores had, but it was a bit obvious what Una wanted from Scottie.
Age was hard to tell with Gargoyles, unless they were really young or really old. Scottie hadn’t gone on a mating flight last time, but she would next. Corrine had learned to think about that age group of gargoyles as teenagers, in spite of the fact they were older than her. They aged at half the rate, which Corrine admitted would be nice when she got older, but must be frustrating now for Scottie.
“When you try that spell, make sure you pronounce this right.” Scottie said, pointing to the Latin word in question. “Otherwise you get nothing but a headache.” Scottie then slowly said the word properly. Corrine repeated it just as slowly, and received a nod from Scottie and a grin.
“I haven’t been out gliding in three days. Want to go out with me?” Scottie asked, but something in her body language had Corrine on guard and she didn’t even know what it was. Her mind traveled to the few trips in the air she’d taken with Demona, and they’d never been for pleasant reasons. She didn’t feel like gliding with any of the clan now, no matter how kindly they asked.
“I’m good. I have a date in a bit.” Corrine answered and watched the amusement in Scottie’s face before the gargoyle covered it up and nodded.
“Okay, well what about tomorrow? We could glide out to the circle and try that spell you’re working on. A practice run before Una’s ‘grades’ you on it might be a good idea. It’s a tricky one. I had to run through it three times to get it, after studying it for a week.” Scottie offered and Corrine paused as she considered that. It wasn’t a dangerous spell, Corrine hadn’t graduated to those yet. Practice would be good.
“Sure,” Corrine gave Scottie a small smile.
“Do you have to cancel on some human?” Scottie smirked and Corrine blushed just a bit. She didn’t fill every night with dates, but apparently Scottie thought Corrine had even more sex than she actually did. Unlike Katara, who occasionally gave Corrine concerned or disgusted looks, Scottie was always amused when Corrine went out on dates.
“I will see you tomorrow then. Let’s meet at your place, so that we don’t have to explain.” Scottie offered and Corrine felt a little strange about that comment. Practicing without Una was frowned on, but not forbidden as long as it was the approved spells. “We don’t need an audience after all.” Scottie smiled and Corrine just chalked it up to protecting Corrine from embarrassment when the spell didn’t work, if it didn’t.
“Okay.” Corrine glanced back down at her book. “I still have to study for an hour.”
“Fine, I’ll see you tomorrow.” Scottie caped her wings and moved out the door. Corrine found herself watching the female walk, and wondering when Scottie started moving like that. The sway of her tail and hips were, well, Corrine shook her head and refocused on the page opened in front of her.
…………………………….
Corrine shivered with the breeze, and then gritted her teeth. She knew Scottie was right, and the spell required this, but she felt like she’d been talked into doing it. Corrine glanced across the fire to see her fellow apprentice equally skyclad, waiting for Corrine to start the spell. Scottie didn’t shiver with the breeze, she didn’t feel it even, as far as Corrine could tell.
Thankfully it was actually rather warm tonight, just the occasional big breeze caused the shiver. Corrine took a deep breath and pulled the spell book toward her. “Let’s give it a try.” Corrine muttered as she flipped through the pages for the spell she’d been learning. It wasn’t an overly impressive spell, but it was the first one she’d done that was a perception spell. Hopefully she’d gain the ability to see like a gargoyle in the dark. Corrine didn’t even know why a gargoyle’s spell book would have a vision modifier spell, other than the fact it was the easiest of this family of spells.
“What did you use for your casting?” Corrine asked as she found the page.
“A dog. It was a bit disturbing to see only in black and white when it worked.” Scottie told her. “What are you going to use?”
“You.” Corrine smiled just a little. “I’m sure the night must look amazing to you, and I know you guys see much better in it than I do.”
Scottie just stared at Corrine a moment, clearly thinking deeply. “I didn’t know you envied us.” Corrine glanced down away from her eyes and then had to look away. Scottie wasn’t wearing anything, she there was a few reasons to envy her staring Corrine in the face.
“No, I just wanted to know, and I had to pick something.” Corrine muttered and shifted the book so that the candles enabled her to read it. “Let’s get started.”
“Okay.” Scottie’s voice was a bit deeper. “Remember to pronounce it right, and you can focus on me rather than some random gargoyle. It works better with a direct connection in mind. I used the dog that tends to hang out in the alley behind my home.”
The words sounded almost musical as Corrine said them, and she felt a moment of pride at having said the incantation correctly. Her candles flared with fire, just as strongly as the fire between them and the magic was in the air around her. Every time this happened Corrine felt amazed that it was working, magic responded to her. Corrine looked up and stared into Scottie’s eyes, focusing on them as she let her mind push the magic to do as she wished.
It seemed like pre-dawn was coming early and Corrine blinked as she found herself able to see into the dark woods. The fire of the candles faded down and the small fire in front of her went out as the candles just burned out, but Corrine could still see. “I knew it.” She spoke quietly as she could see her proof that their eyes were better.
“So it works?” Scottie spoke and Corrine looked back at her to see the gargoyle smiling softly. In the darkness, without candles, it would have been hard to see her, but Corrine also saw Scottie glance down at Corrine’s body. “We are different. I never really thought about it much until you joined the clan, but humans aren’t like us.” Corrine felt her heart hammer just a bit as Scottie stared at her chest, and then lower. “But we seem to have some things in common too.” Corrine felt uncomfortable, sitting cross legged and naked in front of Scottie as the gargoyle stared at her sex.
Corrine’s eyes traveled to the revealed part of the young gargoyle as well, before pulling her eyes away and moving her legs to preserve some modesty.
“I have a spell I want to practice.” Scottie spoke and moved to light one of the candles again. The light was a bit harsh on Corrine’s newly enhanced vision, so she looked away from it. “Sorry, forgot you were new to the eyes.” Scottie spoke softer, gentler. “We can see in light well enough, but don’t stare directly into fire.”
“I got it.” Corrine grinned a little, and glanced around again. She swore she could see more stars even. “What spell do you want to try? I don’t know how much help I’ll be, but I’ll try.” She was still behind her in their studies, though she was catching up.
“I hope you’ll help. I can’t do this spell alone.” Scottie spoke and something in her voice was knowing and amused. Corrine looked back at her, and watched her run her talons through her hair. I did push her wings back and her breasts up. Corrine swallowed hard and glanced away. “Corrine, you ‘date’ a lot.” The words were more conversational, and Corrine was becoming awkward as she sat naked about to have this conversation. “And seeing you, you are a very attractive human.” The words were almost purred and Corrine blushed.
“Like you see many to compare me too.” Corrine muttered, embarrassed.
“One of my clutch sisters has the internet. I’ve seen plenty of naked humans, and you are very attractive.” Scottie’s words surprised Corrine who looked up to see a devilish grin on the gargoyle that just admitted to looking at internet porn. “Can I?” Scottie finally looked a bit nervous. “Can I see you?”
Corrine’s eyes widened. “I think you’re seeing a lot already. We are skyclad.” And now that seemed like a rather dangerous thing to have been doing. Corrine found her eyes wandering where it really shouldn’t. Scottie’s smile seemed to gain confidence.
“I’ll show you mine if you show me yours.” Scottie spoke and Corrine found herself wondering how different they were. Was it even possible for, Corrine shook her head as her mind filled in another Scottish gargoyle in her mind. She always wondered, if she hadn’t been a Canmore, if Demona hadn’t been so against humans, if it was even possible. If her fantasies had ever been at least physically possible, even if there were so many reasons they weren’t going to happen. Corrine found herself tempted. Scottie was the only one of the clan that looked Scottish, so that meant she was showing some characteristics of her parents that hadn’t been dominant in a long time or her Scottish ancestor had been a part of the clan and was now dead. No gargoyles ever questioned it, so Corrine hadn’t. Still, she was familiar in a way that the others weren’t.
And wasn’t that using her, Corrine thought with some disgust at herself. She knew she used the women she dated to deal with her loneliness, but to do that to a gargoyle seemed wrong. The humans understood it wasn’t a relationship, she made it clear. She couldn’t even imagine how disappointed Una would be in her if she treated Scottie, a member of the clan, the way Corrine treated human women.
“I’ve heard the speech, I’m not looking for a relationship, I promise.” Scottie spoke and Corrine was ashamed of herself, to hear Scottie repeating some things she’d told lovers in the past. She had no idea how Scottie had ever heard her say that. “It’s no big deal, it’s innocent. I’m just curious.”
Corrine swallowed hard, seeing how young Scottie was in her last words. It really was just hatchling games to her. Corrine stood up and moved to the pile of her clothes. “We should head back.” Corrine spoke, eager to put her clothes back on now.
“Corrine, I won’t fall in love.” Scottie promised her and Corrine hated herself even more with those words. Corrine hurried to put her shirt on before she turned to see the gargoyle starting to stand, looking a bit nervous and pleadingly at her. “I promise it’s no big deal.”
“It would be to me.” Corrine spoke quietly, her hands shaking a bit as she worked to button up her shirt. “Scottie, I can’t do this with you.”
“You’re my clan sister, you could.” Scottie told her. “We play sometimes.” And that painted a very different picture of the clan in Corrine’s mind. She knew young people, children even, played doctor, but she had never done that. Sexuality had been tainted to her at such a young age that she never did want to do those things. It took her a while to think sexual thoughts about anyone other than the Demon, and still…
“Put on your clothes, you need to take me home.” Corrine ordered gently and turned to grab her pants. “thank you for helping me with the spell.” Her vision was still very good and she could see Scottie was disappointed even as the gargoyle moved to stand on the other side of the large circle to get dressed. “And you are beautiful.” Corrine whispered, but she could see she’d been heard, because Scottie turned to stare at her.
It felt awkward to let Scottie pick her up. Corrine was carried through the sky and she could see the tension on the young gargoyle. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” Corrine spoke quietly into the ear nearest her. Scottie seemed to relax a little at that.
It was an awkward moment as Scottie lowered Corrine onto her balcony after a quiet glide and Corrine rested her hand on the gargoyle’s arm to keep her from leaving as she debated and argued with herself. It didn’t feel innocent, regardless of what Scottie claimed, but Corrine was being treated like a real clan sister with the offer. And she could understand the curiosity because Corrine found it haunting her now that the offer had been made.
“Thank you.” Corrine spoke gently, not wanting to hurt Scottie like Demona had hurt her, but still, Scottie didn’t care for Corrine in the same way Corrine had cared for Demona. She probably couldn’t hurt her that badly. Corrine glanced in the balcony door at her apartment, and then back at Scottie. “I should probably go in.”
“Yeah.” Scottie muttered and Corrine hesitated a moment more, before leaning up and gently kissing the young female’s lips. Corrine’s hands moved to caress Scottie’s shoulders a moment as she kissed her, and Scottie started to kiss back before Corrine pulled back.
The feel of muscles moving under her skins as Scottie’s wings moved could be felt even in her shoulders, and Corrine rested her hands more firmly on the shoulders to feel it. Scottie’s muscles were attached very differently than Corrine’s and Corrine wondered how else they differed, but she stepped back. “I wouldn’t be forgiven for playing with you that way.” Corrine admitted and turned to open the door.
“Who would know?” Scottie asked and Corrine turned to see the female watching her. Corrine hung her head and stepped inside. Part of her really wished she was young enough to get away with it, but she was no hatchling and regardless of what they said, she wasn’t fully clan. Not like that.
…………………………………