Blacktail Deer Plateau lost lost lost

"Grayday," the male replied, though he doubted the girl would remember his name. His voice turned gentle, then. "You were young - I don't expect you to remember. You were only with me for a week or so..." He thought back with regret, having not looked for Sorrel as long as he should have. He'd had his own children to worry about, and other things on his mind. She'd deserved better, but what could be done, now? "I found you in the brush, and took you home and fed you - but a while later, you disappeared. No one knew where you'd gone."

He wanted to ask her, now, but refrained. "A few weeks after that, I ran into your brother and father," he said quietly, realizing with a jolt that a lot of pain and heartache could have been saved if he'd looked after her just a bit more closely. "I'm sorry I lost you, Sorrel. It shames me."