Golden Glade Little sorrows sit and weep

Penn had been hunting beyond the borders again that day and for once, he'd been mildly successful. The vole he carried in his jaws was nearly as starved as he was, but it was more than he'd managed to catch in days. It took a good deal of willpower to resist eating the critter himself. Were it not for his family at home, he would have. But Penn fully intended to bring his catch home and give it to his mother. That would definitely win him the praise from his father he so very much craved, but that's a secret shh.

So it goes without saying that Penn was feeling mighty full of himself as he trotted through the Glade on his way home. When he spotted the female ahead, he quickly decided it was best if he didn't engage at all. He would just waltz straight past her instead of wasting time with meaningless conversation. He was on a mission after all.

But then he got closer, and something weirdly instinctive caused him to slow. He dropped the vole at his paws and took a protective step over it, eyeing her warily for a moment before calling out to her in a very thoughful and chivalrous move--"What's up with you?"