Dragoncrest Cliffs Mourning light

The instant she saw the commander approaching, Wildfire dropped to the ground and flattened. It wasn't done consciously, it was more of an emotional and instinctual reaction to Thuringwethil's imposing presence. She remained very still, only chancing a quick upward glance when the Heda came to stand over her. She didn't say anything and Wildfire couldn't really interpret her body language from down here. She dropped her gaze and stared pensively at her own feet, trying to muster up something to say.

"I'm sorry I ran off," she began after a lengthy silence. "I was upset but that doesn't excuse it." She swallowed thickly, gazing off to the side for a long beat as she tried to gather the rest of her thoughts. There was a lot she wanted to say about that day on the beach but when Wildfire opened her mouth, what spilled out instead was, "Thur, I went to the caldera. My parents"—her voice caught, hitched—"they're dead." She hadn't intended to play the pity card but she looked up beneath lashes suddenly laden with wobbling tears, appealing not to her commander but to her partner.