A/N: Idk if Red is a little OC here. I've never written from her point of view before so you guys will have to let me know what you think. Enjoy!

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Red took another step forward only for Lappland to lurch back. The white wolf before her snarled, yanking her swords out of their sheathes and poising them threateningly in her direction. Red didn't even bother flinching at the action, nor was she perturbed by the animalistic growls Lappland left out. Being a hunter, especially of wolves, she had seen this behavior before. She knew what to expect here, even if Lappland was supposedly unpredictable.

If I wish to fluff the tail I must calm her down.

Kal'tsit watched from off to the side. She seemed unwilling to get involved, which was just fine. As much as Red loved her adoptive mother, her involvement here was more likely to escalate things in the wrong direction. So she would do her best on her own. Just behave. Be kind, like Frostleaf told you. Do not act scary or creepy.

"I mean no harm Lappland." Red started.

"Yeah right. You wish to kill other wolves. And I am a wolf, so I'm not gonna believe you for a second." Lappland kept on growling. If she was a full on wolf her fur would be standing on end, bristling with outrage and tightly concealed terror.

She sighed. "I promise. All I want—"

"Is to pet my tail? Pssh. That doesn't even make any sense."

Every step Red took toward Lappland resulted in a step back from the white wolf. They were both approaching a wall. She wondered what would happen if the other wolf backed into it. There was a bookshelf there, crammed to the brim with books. Dust swathed the ones on the uppermost shelf. An abandoned ladder lay on the ground, one of its wheels broken, the others aged with rust. Years ago she had loved climbing up and down this very ladder. Back then her only objective in this room was furthering her love for reading. The stories in novels took her to other places. In those tales she imagined herself in a land faraway from the troubles of Terra. It was an escapist's dream, foolish but with good intentions.

This has good intentions too. If she would just here me out . . .

Deciding to switch up tactics, she began once more.

"Wolves are creatures of habit, pure instinct is what rules most our decisions."

"Okay . . ."

Lappland had stopped in place. Her swords were still raised but they still hardly bothered Red. They likely never would. She knew how to easily get rid of those if it became necessary anyways. It took little effort to disarm someone if you had the know how after all. And she had the know how. The multiple knives stashed in her coat were itching to be used again. She'd have to visit the training level later, after this was over with. Maybe Lappland would come with her someday. She wanted more friends.

"And caring for each other . . . that is part of that instinct. Red, I-I haven't had other wolves in my life for long time. You haven't either. Not since your parents died I presume?"

Lappland growled, tail lashing again as she bared her teeth. "Don't you dare mention them! And don't say that! It's not true! I-I have someone." Sadness with an exhale as something became somber in Lappland's expression. "I had someone. She . . . we were together. It's not any of your business."

And indeed it wasn't. Every step forward with Lappland was proving to be two steps backward. She really needed to get a better grip on the situation, especially with the endgame she had in mind.

"I'm sorry for your loss," Red said simply.

The growl died; the lashing stopped. "How can you be sorry when you've killed so many of our kind?"

She would be taking yet another gander.

"The same way you can be sorry for hurting op- Texas. Grief can be shared."

And it seemed those words were the key. Lappland's swords clattered to the ground, their owner falling suit as the white wolf went down to her knees. There were tears in those silver eyes, waiting to be spilled. Red stood in place, as did Kal'tsit. It was better to gauge the reaction before you acted when it came to someone like Lappland.

Look before you leap.

And she was looking now, taking in the way Lappland's whole body seemed to shudder with barely concealed sobs. Loss was hard to describe and even harder to deal with. She wished it on no one, despite being the cause of several deaths. Her occupation wasn't for the faint of heart. Red suspected whatever Texas and Lappland had done back when they were together wasn't either. Scars became silver, faded lines on skin but in hearts they always remained. Learn from the hurt, use it to gain more than you've lost. That's the way the world works.

Her own past was a haunting shadow; Red did her best to learn.

"I-I miss her so much . . . But now it's like she can't even bear to look at me. S-she hates me."

A hiccup, followed by another sob.

Slowly Red inched forward.

"I'm sure she doesn't hate you."

"How? How can you be sure? How can you know anything about her?"

Lappland's questions were probably meant to come out as demands. Instead they sounded like broken words, a runaway train flying off the face of a cliff to crash into the murky ocean waters. The polished swords glinted with the overhead light. Many lives were taken on those weapons, just like her knives. The kinship was oddly comforting.

Comfort, yes. Comfort was what was needed here.

"I don't know Texas, not very well. She doesn't let me get close." It was true. Texas did avoid her at all costs. The same ran true for Provence. It was rather sad. She'd like to be friends but they always ran off the second she entered the room.

"Hah. Well that's hardly surprising considering what you are."

"Oh. And what am I?"

Fwoosh.

Kal'tsit's exit was signaled by the sweeping door. Neither of them looked up to watch her go; neither of them needed to watch when their ears worked perfectly fine.

"A Hunter. A Hunter of wolves. An abomination to our kind."

And yes, that was the problem, wasn't it? But not in the way she's saying it. There's a different heart to this issue . . .

"You say I'm an abomination and maybe I am, but I think I'm not the only one."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Lappland was growling again. This time there was defensiveness to it instead of the offensive undertones from moments before. They were alone in this room. There were security cameras but those would do nothing to stop either if a fight broke out. She wondered if Kal'tsit went to watch the monitor. Not like it matters. She knows not to butt in. Kal'tsit's so understanding. Knows so much.

"I think you know exactly what I'm saying. Both of us are outcasts among our kind. Lone wolves." Red summed up what Lappland refused to do.

"N-no. N-no. You're wrong. We aren't the same."

The stutters were sad murmurs, slightly above the volume of whirring of machinery. Blue light from a computer monitor reflected on one of the walls, likely the home screen of a mouse running back and forth on the screen. She pictured the small white blob going in aimless circles. There would never be a destination in mind for something programmed. Such a sad existence. She used to feel like her own life had no purpose. Just one kill after another. But then Kal'tsit came into her life and changed everything.

With Kal'tsit came Rhodes Island. With Rhodes Island a purpose. A home.

Hopefully others found a home here too. Others like Lappland.

And this was yet another reason why she was here. She was one of the few people here who understood what Lappland went through all those years ago. This conversation was hard but unavoidable. It had to be done. And I won't fail. This is my mission.

She met Lappland's gaze, gold eyes boring into silver. "It is true, and that's okay. Because even lone wolves deserve love. You deserve love. I'm sure Texas would say the same."

"But she doesn't love me anymore." Quivering, Lappland averted her gaze staring at her gloved hands. If she was anything like Red —she was— then she was likely picturing all the blood on her hands. In their profession the spill was unavoidable.

"She may have stopped loving you now but now isn't forever." Red stressed.

"You don't know. Don't know the things I've done. Our story."

"Yes, but I'd like to learn." Red murmured.

"Why? So you can use it against us? I won't let you." Lappland growled again, albeit weakly.

"No, I don't want it for that reason. I want it because . . ."

"Because why? Answer me!" Lappland barked.

"Because I wish to understand you. I wish to offer care and support."

Those words felt slightly foreign. They almost felt like they didn't originate from her. She pictured a lab coat and the smell of disinfectant. A stern expression connected with green eyes and a comforting hand combing through her messy locks. She couldn't remember her birth parents, but she had something much better in her life. Kal'tsit and Doctor Y/N were the only parents she would ever need.

"Hah, you? How can you give me support?"

"You won't know unless you let me in." Red murmured. She kept completely still, not daring to startle Lappland into a fit of unease. The lack of negative assault from the white wolf was a good sign, a very good sign. Progress came in bouts. She took it and held on tight.

"I . . ." Lappland sucked in a breath. She wasn't crying any longer, but her pensive expression made it clear she wasn't entirely sure about Red. "I don't know . . ."

"I can understand you better than anyone else here, so at least think about it."

"Nope. Yes, no. Ugh, I don't know. Maybe. Hey! Where are you going?" Lappland frowned as Red got back up onto her feet and began walking towards the door.

"I'm going to let you have some time to think. I'll be at the 1st level dormitories tomorrow around noon. Give me your answer then." She left without another word, forcing herself to deny the white fluffy tail that had been so close to being within her reach. Lappland said nothing else, just watching dumbfounded as the doors swooshed open and shut.

But it was the job of a hunter to be patient. If everything went just as she thought —and she knew it did— then Lappland would be coming to see her at noon tomorrow.

And she couldn't wait.

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A/N: Will there be a part three? That is the question. Let me know if y'all want it and until next time see ya!