Family, unlike ‘wife’, was indeed a word she knew. However rather than fond sentiments and strengthened bonds of loyalty, in her mind it was a tattered hide woven layered in broken promises and betrayal- well-weathered and strained until it was an ugly sight to behold. To hear of it again made her lips quiver somewhat, yet she kept herself in check, choosing to conceal her teeth rather than allow her dislike blossom further. Instead she listened, and deeply in the hopes of understanding just where this man was coming from. The complications he himself endured, they did not seem to make sense to the warrior’s mind. Was knowing her such a burden that he needed to lie to his companion and leader? Were the consequences of their arrangement that severe?
Her muzzle was clasped shut lest she repeat her confession for the third time on the situation. But the scrunch of her brows were sure to betray her as would the questioning cant of her muzzle to the side. It was no fault of the Vale, her ignorance. She had lived a life within a den away from the deeper workings of her home. She was only told what she needed to know. All other quips of knowledge were scrounged by her own experiences and luck. But what she could understand, when all else failed, was the voice of sincerity regardless of its accent.
Timidly, she lowered her nose to look down at a large paw, watching as it moved seemingly on its own accord to push and brush bits of rock to and fro. “Our friendship is important to me…” mumbling her confession, she pushed a small rock away with a blunt claw. Her ears perked forward to the sound of its clatter against the earth, then drew back as she continued as softly as per usual. “I wont refuse you. If I did, I would gain nothing, and would lose someone important.” She paused, suddenly feeling a tightness in her throat making it difficult to speak. “But I,” quietly, she cleared her throat. “…can you be certain our friendship would not cause you trouble?” The last thing she wanted was her desire to make another’s life more difficult, even if it was him that offered to continue their bond. |