Bearclaw Valley black holes cover up my eyes

tags for reference but are more than welcome to join too <3

news of @Cole and @Winslet's union had spread across the valley, eventually reaching the bitter ears of nephele who did her best to avoid both. the former due to the unbridled betrayal and hurt she felt, and the latter to avoid any awkward or fake interactions of feigned happiness.

no, she did not want to see the happy couple. did not want to wish them joy and a long life together. did not want to even share the same breath as them.

her heart was bruised, and she felt a fool for it.

she'd not even known of them, of them together. he'd never mentioned winslet's name to her before. did his new wife know? did she know of the time nephele had spent laying against her husband's side? of the kiss they'd shared? or had he played them both, blinding two women with pretty words and gentle caresses to their cheeks?

did she ever really know the man at all?

it mattered not, he'd made his choice, and nephele was not it. idiot — why had she thought she would have been the only one he was looking at?

but...but! he'd asked her to risk it. he had asked her! and all for what? to tear her heart from her chest and use it as a toy?

rage, upset, heartache and misery tormented the stormcloud. she thought she'd had a chance —

and she was a fool. a fool for thinking that when she had listened to cole's heartbeat, that it had been beating for her.

hopped on this so fast

the past few days had felt as if she'd been walking on a cloud. lost in a beautiful daydream, tucked away into its comfort and security. fuller her heart has been than it ever has. and now, she walks with a confidence she'd never known before. as she had cole who believed in her, and that's all she needs. 

but reality always has an odd, unfortunate way of nipping her in the butt. 

she's been floating around bearclaw with soft smiles and gentle greetings. collecting odds and ends for her new home, in hopes to make it feel as such. pelts, feathers, trinkets—it mattered not. she'd take them all—after confirming they did not belong to someone else—with pride. 

that is how she found nephele; returning from gathering soft pelts that now rest along her back for the journey home. truthfully, she knew nothing of the woman. they hadn't met before, but that wouldn't stop her! and the woman seemed upset. as if a visible rain cloud had plagued her; it was written all over her expression, in her eyes. 

winnie knew nothing of her plight, but she felt inclined to try and help. she approached with a friendly sway of her tail, a kind smile. "hello. i don't mean to bother you, but...are you alright?" a gentle question, in case the woman wished to be left alone.