Arrow Lake my darling angel is not inside

overwhelmed suddenly by some invisible ailness, takiyok turned away. instinctively, thorn looked elsewhere, not wishing to add his quiet gaze to her likely burning humiliation.

his mouth formed a quiet 'o' as she requested his gift be removed; unacquainted to the rather cruel whims of motherhood, thorn was puzzled but obliged -- certainly, this kind of sickness was not the same as a cough or mild fever, and he imagined there was no greater burden for a body to bear than the bearing of new life.

neatly tucking the quail into a cache nearby, thorn padded back to takiyok - wondering if she would still be where he left her, and if she wished for company or simply for him to leave her alone.