Bearclaw Valley quicksilver cruel

"But not because you wanted to?"

The question was off her tongue before she had given it much thought; behind it lurked a touch of disappointment, as she had caught that implication. It felt not unlike a rag shoved into her mouth that she had spat back out and perhaps with that statement she felt a certain haste to correct herself.

"I mean, I guess that's reasonable. I've heard you should never do something you're good at without something in return from traveling, but..." she found she couldn't finish the statement. But what? They were supposed to be a united front working together, didn't that take the fire out of doing something for nothing? Either way, the words didn't come and she fumbled, flustered suddenly beneath her innocent demeanor.

"I'm sorry, I'm probing—it's been a while since I've had good company. Am I keeping you from something?"