Broken Boulder used to know

Ulf questioned him, and he paused; he had expected it, but could no longer recall the answer. Several beats of silence passed. He was searching for the words he wanted— for the feeling he wanted to express. It became clear to him all at once.
I don't want you to leave, The words came in a breathless rush, perhaps unexpected in the context but not to him. Everyone left him eventually. Alarian was sick of losing those he cared for— he was tired of being alone. He had stopped running; why couldn't everyone else? His lungs felt constricted again as he realized the truth of his own words. The wolfdog may have been an unwelcome surprise in his home, but now— now Alarian hoped desperately that he could keep him.