Dragoncrest Cliffs Break your fall

The commander stayed put for a moment, then moved away. Wildfire gulped, her whole body shuddering as tears streamed down her face, chilling and congealing into her red fur. She felt her gut lurch at the sting of rejection and made no attempt to scoot closer again, despite a desperate yearning to rebury her blotchy face in Thuringwethil's neck. She tried to quiet her wrenching sobs as the Heda spoke to her, tone firm but plaintive all at once, genuine confusion written all over her charcoal features.

Wildfire began shaking her head about halfway through her mate's speech, though not in dissent. It was directed at herself. The commander spoke logically and sensibly, whereas the Bandrona's stance was fueled by intuition and emotion. The muscles in her jaw jumped as Wildfire ground her teeth together, trying to stifle the cries that still rippled in her throat. It was difficult, especially with her parents' faces floating in her mind, but after a time, she managed to calm down and begin piecing her thoughts together again.

"I know you were just trying to do what's best for the pack and the pups we bring into it," she began mournfully, "but it's one thing to know something. Feelings are an entirely different matter..." Wildfire began shaking her head again. "I just want this so much, Thur, it's hard to think logically. I—I'm sorry. I just want a family with you so bad because I love you so damn much. And now I've—fucked it all up, I'm sure," she choked out, starting to cry again, silently this time, sure that there was no cleaning up the mess she'd made of everything.