King Elk Forest -- we can't say we didn't try

i live for angst!  brienne, on the other hand...

she had provoked him, though not in the way she had wanted because now his words are personal, intentionally cutting.

and with them, all that's left of the old brienne is snuffed out.  see?  this is what you get when you care too much.  he cuts her, deep and to her core, carefully slicing out every bit of her that thought she might have loved him. yes, she breathes but it's the only word she can get out.  yes, it was a far jump, but she didn't think he'd be able to see that now.

her tail slumps, ears sliding back as her head falls lower while he still stands there, taken aback but tall.  so he's going to leave her with the same false hope that he'd held for her return?  she'd have to think about that.  she had never thought in all this she'd lose him, too, and if it became clear to her there was no hope she'd leave this damn pack, for real this time, winter and starvation be damned.  she would find somewhere.

may i... be excused?