Neverwinter Forest On the Doorstep

"she doesn't hate you," he says automatically, and then pauses. "what?

he wheels towards mal, drawing to his full height in alarm. "she's gone? what girl?" ibis--no, this is not good at all--he needs to know where she is, needs to know she's safe, surely she didn't leave him without saying anything? or did she think he left?  he takes a few steps back, expression wavering between fear and hurt, though his eyes don't leave mal's face -- yet.