Bearclaw Valley Now you know, all you need is me

he stands up with a start, backing away from her like she had bitten him.

oh my god, she was never going to talk again!  what was this?  what had she done?  every time she had let this word escape from her lips she had been met with indifference, and now this?  oh no, this word was forbidden.  nasty word.

she must go to him, she must comfort him.  but she is frozen, bolted to the ground by fear.  anxiety rippled off her in waves, and she sat statuesque.  what had she done?  she wants to whine, but since her last vocalization she is afraid to do even that.

he must realize, because now he is coming back towards her.  but he does not hold the same eagerness as before, his steps are halting and tentative.  if she could form tears they'd be welling up, but instead subtle twitches of her whiskers are the only movement her body has to offer.

once he touches her she melts into him fervently.  she was sorry, couldn't he see she was sorry?  what could she do for him?  she smooths her tongue over his muzzle a few times, first with fervor and then slower, working to groom his pelt to calm them both down.