Silvertip Mountain Did you find something?

Sebastian was perceptive and, of course, right. At the time, Andalusia had made her choice with the knowledge she would suffer, perhaps even longer than Adrien. But she hadn't been able to face the alternative, and when all was spoken, running had been the easiest way to escape the moment. Yet her restlessness had only grown, and she'd been running ever since. Outriding helped distract her, but the end of the road brought her paws back home, to other families, and to the thoughts of what could have been.

What she watched in Sebastian stilled her heart, and a weight she'd long carried eased from her shoulders. His worries were normal, and she gave ear to listen - but before she could speak, his tongue flashed across her cheek and she flinched, and any words she had formed to give were lost to her surprise.

Yet with his words, the weight lifted even higher, and she leaned in to pass an amiable bump to cheek. "And you'll have to know the same goes for you. Even when I'm chasing the wind, my ears will always be open for you." Whatever happened, she wouldn't leave, and if Pearl was gone, or if she returned, the Ostrega would stand at Sebastian's side.

When he drew his question back, her jaw tightened, but his gentle response had softened her, and a careful smile crept over her face. "It's nothing that you can fix," but the hurt welled within, and she fell quiet for a long moment. She trusted Sebastian, but her heart picked up speed. Finally, she continued, "You know it takes two to start a family." There was nothing to fear, but that speaking would make things real. For as long as these things remained in her mind, she could pretend they weren't a problem. But they were. And she was tired of pretending, so Andalusia ripped the wound. "I can't."