Lake Rodney your fathers been calling

It took time for him to concentrate (and to be fair, Titmouse was probably too ADD to concentrate for real, or for long). Raven's voice was soothing for its presence rather than what she actually said, and the boy wasn't really hearing any of the words. It was hard enough to hear anything beyond his pounding heart or the constricting feeling that had risen up to dominate every inch of his body.

But it worked. Gradually.
Slowly.

And when Titmouse was breathing at a better rate, relaxed beside Raven, he breathed deeply with a sigh and said, She hates me, Gulp. She -- she called me a deserter. It wasn't true! He hadn't meant to leave. Why did it matter anyway? He was alive, he was here, shouldn't everyone be happy? Maybe it was because he denied their relation - but it had taken him by surprise! The boy shook his head frantically and buried his snout in to Raven, whining softly.