Emberwood [M] to tell you how i feel

He felt instantly guilty for his words. He was struggling so much to be normal Kavik, but sometimes the grief overcame his efforts. Of course that was why she had left. I'm sorry, Grezig, he said quietly. I know that's why you left. He sighed a little. But, I had no idea that you still felt that way. How could I? He hadn't seen her in almost a year, and so much had changed since then. How was he to know that she had held onto her feelings this whole time. It didn't change his reservations, though; she was better off not exploring any kind of relationship with him that was more than a friendship. 

She questioned his words, which he expected, but that didn't make it any easier to explain. His reasons for feeling that way were pushed deep down inside, and he fought every day to not think or talk about it. But for some reason, his control splintered now. His expression was pained again as he spoke. Because my entire family died, and it's all my fault, he finally answered. He couldn't even look at her as he said the words. I made the decision to move them from the creek and take them up through the mountains. They all trusted me to keep them safe, and instead, I lead them to their deaths. His gaze remained fixed on his front paws, despair and shame tightening his chest so hard that he thought it might explode. He secretly wished it would. Then he wouldn't have to hear her reaction or see condemnation on her face.