Blacktail Deer Plateau Mistaken Identity

Shale shrugged, the smile coming easier to his face now that the subject had passed. "You never know," he murmured. "Life has a way of sneaking things like that up on you."

But before he could add to the witty banter, the subject was back--and painfully, clearly out in the open, this time round. He knew that it was inevitable, that since they were talking mates and children that Pema would only naturally ask him about it as well.

That knowledge didn't make it hurt any less.

Wordlessly, Shale shook his head, once, twice, three times, as if shaking off summer flies in a swamp. "I--no." It was a lie, somewhat. . .but the denial was more for the conversation in general, not the question asked. Glancing nervously over his shoulder, Shale looked back to Pema, his amber eyes clouded. "I should leave you be. Nice to finally meet you."

He knew it was rude to leave so abruptly, but without her response, Shale departed, tail hanging low, ears pinned nearly to his temples. It was too soon. Too soon, for this girl to know his heart.