Sleeping Dragon Nothing but space

The commander looked nonplussed and Wildfire felt a jab of guilt. She knew it wasn't easy and that Thuringwethil came from a very different culture entrenched in heavy traditions. Some of them seemed to have very little bearing on the way of life in the Teekon Wilds, yet that made them no less significant. Wildfire let out a shaky breath, then drew in another as she tried to steady herself. That the Heda wanted her, wanted her happy, was all the answer she needed.

Still, the Bandrona wasn't perfect and she couldn't overrule her emotions entirely. Her mouth opened to try to explain as much but what popped out instead was an apology. "I'm sorry, Thur. I'm just... struggling with all of this." She rolled a shoulder in what was supposed to be an offhanded shrug even as she felt a lump form in her throat. She felt a strong urge to cry but swallowed it, clinging to the commander's confused but genuine words of reassurance.

"I need to clear my head," she announced a moment later, rising slowly. She paused, then pressed her nose to Thuringwethil's cheek. "I'm going to get us some more food. I'll be back soon, I promise." Wildfire moved to the den's entrance, then stopped and looked backward. "I love you. We'll... figure it out." She managed a small and apologetic smile before ducking out into the waiting darkness.