Blacktail Deer Plateau On the borderline

He was glad to hear that she was not letting the situation get to her, for having more stress on top of being a relatively new mother with young to care for could not have been a good thing.  He felt she was being truthful in this, so wouldn't press.

He'd meant to bring up Osprey.  He really had.  He had gotten Lasher's thoughts on the issue and wanted her own as well.  But when he opened his mouth to speak on it, the words he intended were not the ones that came out.  "Lasher spoke with me of his feelings for me."  He did not look at her, and his tone quieted.  "I told him that they weren't returned, at least not now."  The guilt was prevalent, for he knew he had hurt the other with the revelation, but he could see no other course he could have taken.