Permafrost Hollows i am a man of many hats

He couldn't help feeling guilty when Ulf asked if he didn't like it. It's not that I don't like it, Alarian blurted, then stopped, ears flattening. This was getting worse. Well, I mean— it's just... Oh god, oh no, oh no. It was getting more awkward by the moment, at least for Ali, and he could feel himself tensing.
Uhhh— look, I'mreallygay— and it's not like— I don't want to make it weird, I just— I know you don't mean it that way and— He stumbled over his attempted explanation, eventually coming to a slightly-panicked halt. Finally his frozen limbs started to work, and in his rush to put some distance between himself and the wolfdog he managed to slip. Alarian landed like a sack of potatoes, about a foot from Ulf— he had succeeded in getting the distance he needed, but the wind was knocked out of him now, and a deep panic brewed in his chest.