Sun Mote Copse Oh, mirror in the sky, what is love?

Penn watched her quietly for a moment after she answered him. She was so intent on this. Why? He wondered again if she realized what he was going through. If she had any notion for how this felt, how heartbroken and lost he was. It certainly didn't seem like it if she was making him play guide dog as though everything were normal. But, as he looked at her, he finally considered that maybe she actually did understand.

He bit his lip, then reached out and nuzzled his nose gently against her muzzle. It was a brief touch, and just a small one. But still. It was more tenderness than he'd ever shown anyone in his life, and so he was instantly embarrassed by it.

"Come on," Penn said as he promptly pulled away, "Let's go to the swamp and I'll try to trick you into falling into the muck."