Otter Creek Break the cycle.

As soon as she asked, Whittier began to realize that there had been no social cues prompting his apparent departure. He too was not well-versed in etiquette (despite his entire family's attempts at learning him some), so her question made him pause awkwardly. He needed to go, that much he knew. How was he going to find the Grove and Allure if he stayed here? And hadn't they just decided he needed to do that? He supposed that didn't necessarily mean that he had to leave right at that moment, but... oh crap she was talking again.

"Yeah, definitely," Whittier told her after a slight wince at her calling it "the pretty place" again. Apparently that wording was going to stick, but he supposed it didn't really matter since she didn't seem to be using it in a mocking tone. He wondered briefly if it was because she was so young that she didn't realize she should be making fun of him for saying it like that. Or maybe she was just nice? Nah, too young. "I don't know how long it'll take me though is the only thing. But I promise I'll come back, you can bet on it," he assured her with a smile and a wag of his tail. Whit had his shortcomings - a buttload of them - but he was at least good on his promises.