Blacktail Deer Plateau something in my heart

Even with Huā’s arrival, his gaze remained trained on Ying. His ears fell flat against his head as she continued, words harsh. His body stiffened beneath her gaze, not sure at this point how he should react; he didn’t understand where her anger came from. “But I want to protect you,” he tried to tell her, to explain himself. “I know you protect yourself but… don’t you get tired?” Why was he wrong for wanting to help her?

“I do want you,” he insisted, flustered. “I want you to stay, and your sisters, too. But your sisters… you said before they weren’t happy here.” He didn’t want to force them to stay when they preferred the sea—but if Ying didn’t mind staying away from the sea, then why couldn’t he ask her to stay inland? His posture drooped when she turned away again to face her sister, ears pinned back and a frown permanently engraved into his maw. What did he do wrong?