Blacktail Deer Plateau strike three

yours may one day as well. not only did shame rise up in him for the fact that he had apparently befriended a sexual predator, but the sadness that came earlier from waiting for children was back, in full force. he flattened his ears.

"he was a friend," he said, his voice devoid of all emotion. it would come back, later, but now he was just tired. "but he fucked up." okay, there was a little anger left. it swelled within him, a small sapling, before retreating back into nothingness.

"i'm not. . .him," aditya murmured, looking up at grayday. "when i was younger, perhaps. but not now. i won't side with him. i'm not him." his voice was half-businesslike, half-pleading. hoping grayday wouldn't think his choice of friend reflected poorly on him.

he straightened his spine, gold eyes taking on a new glint, a weight that hadn't been there before. "he's gone, damn him," he muttered. his gaze snapped to the borders. "i won't let him get close again."