<span style="font-family:Carme">Part of Holly’s mind wondered why he turned away as she shifted. She remembered that she herself had turned away from people the first few times that she had seen them shift simply because it was an uncomfortable thing that honestly wasn’t socially acceptable. However, she had very quickly come to understand that there was no way around it and for that reason, Holly had gotten over the aversion to the common sight of nudity rather quickly. That didn’t mean she was happy about letting people see her naked, but she didn’t seem to have much of a choice. <br/>
<br/>
Despite him turning away - even a small bit - Holly still heard his words and they made her shimmer a bit. She knew what he was going to say - that he was glad she was alright - and that wasn’t something her own pack actually told her very often; in fact, they hadn’t been very kind at all. Instead, everything always seemed like business and it left a very cold feeling environment. More often than not, Holly felt like she was being dictated to and it wasn’t something she was used to at all. These thoughts combined made her realize that she almost already liked him more than any of the three wolves who now surrounded them and she didn’t think that was how it was supposed to be at all. She remained where she was, not really changing her position much as she listened to Griff and then as she listened to Okomi. <br/>
<br/>
Tris let out a low growl as soon as Okomi spoke and it was clear in his eyes that his comments had not been welcome in Tris’s mind and opinion. However, even Tris did not make a move towards the rogue yet. Perhaps that was because Griff, the one standing and human at the time, held out a hand in his direction as a gesture not to move. They didn’t need to get into a fight while Holly was human and vulnerable right in the middle of it. That was one thing they could likely all agree on because she was one of their own even if she didn’t see herself that way. <br/>
<br/>
Griff did hand off the jacket, but then he spoke as well. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“Excuse me, but you have not been observing her for as long as we have. She’s been in our pack for a few days now actually, and we have spent that time learning what we can from her.”</span> His voice was cordial and he was clearly friendlier than Tris would have been in the situation. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“No you haven’t!”</span> Holly spat at him. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“All you’ve been doing is keeping me captive and not letting me go anywhere!”</span> Despite her apparent frustration with the whole situation, she did take the jacket when Okomi offered it, finding it more dignified to accept something from him than it would have been to accept it from Griff. Slipping her arms into the sleeves, she quickly had it on and pulled the two sides together in front of her. She wasn’t wearing it because she was cold; it was more to preserve her own modesty. <br/>
<br/>
<span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“Holly, we’re trying to teach you control so that you can be free. It’s not exactly common for people to see someone change into a wolf in front of them and it’s not something that we can allow. As someone who was changed in our territory, that is our responsibility, Holly. We have to keep to that,”</span> Griff tried to explain it kindly, but it did come off rather cold. <br/>
<br/>
Holly scoffed, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:deeppink">“<i>Changed?</i> More like mauled…”</span> <br/>
<br/>
There wasn’t much Griff could say in response to that because she was right. When they had found her, she had been bleeding out in so many ways. Of course, the venom of the attack prevented her from dying, but she had scars still from the incident and they still didn’t know who had done it to her. It was one of the things they all felt sympathetic towards. Never had any of them seen anything so violent done to a person before. Instead of trying to comment, he turned his attention back to Okomi. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“Thank you, though. We are trying to get to safer lands, but as I’m sure you can see, she’s being difficult.”</span> Then he glanced at Holly one more time. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“Are you hurt?”</span> <br/>
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She hadn’t really been certain until Okomi had said something. Yes, she was hurt. Since there had been a thorn in her paw, now there was a thorn in her foot which was almost worse. She wasn’t sure that walking would be easy and as Griff asked her about it, she nodded and uncurled her foot so that the injury was visible. <br/>
<br/>
He sighed and added, <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“Will you please come back with us, Holly? We should really take care of that sooner rather than later.”</span> <br/>
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Eventually, Holly nodded. It didn’t seem like she had a choice. She wouldn’t put it past them to drag her by force if it came to that. <br/>
<br/>
Sighing happily, Griff glanced to Freya and then to Okomi. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“You’re welcome to come back with us, and if you could help her to walk, I’m sure she’d appreciate your help more than mine because…”</span> Glancing down at himself, he really didn’t need to explain. He was nude and Okomi wasn’t. It seemed it should be a fairly obvious thing. <span class="fixed-color" style="color:darkslategray">“I don’t know if our alpha will let you stay long, but anyone who helps out should be welcome to share a meal.”</span></span>