[ WERE YOU SO AFRAID? | LOST/JOINING?? ]

[align=center][div style="width: 500px; text-align: justify; font-family: arial; font-size: 9.5pt; line-height: 1.4;letter-spacing:.1px"]Everything Butch said was right, of course it was, but to watch the other canine realize he was a child and relax — Lazarus isn't sure if he should be insulted or confused (maybe relieved?) but whatever he feels is some combination of all three, something that makes the guilt and shame ebb a little bit. The younger male's own posture seems to relax from the wary, just keep standing aggressiveness to confused attentiveness. Short ears face Butch, wild green eyes soft and round even though his mouth is pulled to a line. He draws himself up higher — even being as young as he is, the Cane Corso is a massive breed, and he nears the tallest of the bunch already. The other dog has scars too, a rough life. It puts his mind at ease, just slightly, but it makes his heart ache for some sign of Gabriel. At least then he wouldn't have to worry about staggering through this situation alone. He'd never learned how to be normal.

"Lazarus," he finally murmurs, voice low and tone unsure. "Why are you here?"