Fox's Glade oh guard the pounding sound

a dustcloth slipping to reveal the rich tones of the oil painting beneath — the other girl suddenly mirrored somehow the very ache in mona's heart as her tension ebbed. for a long moment the mayfair did not respond, words evading her tongue when before they had not. a sigh — her crimson shoulders rolled, and her own transient smile made its debut. "i don't know," she answered honestly, hoping her unexpected bedfellow in misery would sit down and wallow a bit with her.
a sister. mona glanced again toward the snow. "i've got a brother, but i don't know where he is." the yearling let out her breath — she would not allow herself to explore the subject of losing cortland, not when the tremour of her tears was held back so tenuously. "will you tell me about her? i'm mona, by the way," the nuro added, knowing her request was abrupt, but trusting a tendril of instinct instructing her to speak truthfully the wants of her raw heart.