Neverwinter Forest through the dark of night

He put on a good face for the wolves in the pack. He'd pretend to be positive, without conflict, because that was what he believed they needed. He didn't truly feel it though. Cupid's reaction followed by whatever had happened to him had been too soul-crushing for that. But he tried.

Hua's howl split his emotions even farther -- he wanted to see her, but he didn't want to hurt her, but he probably would if he told the truth... And Mal wasn't big on lying, at least not over things so important. He better figure out what the hell to say and quick. How did he manage to dig his own grave this time?

He spotted her ahead, which further twisted his insides. Mal trotted over quickly, Hua! He was happy to see her, but so conflicted. He was still afraid that she'd start yelling at him too, but so far Hua had always been nice. He was totally going to ruin it. She was going to hate him too. Maybe it would have been better if he'd never gone back to Yuelong, if she'd forgotten him too. He tried to let just the happiness show, but a lot had happened in the last week or so, it wasn't as carefree or pure as before, but his tail still wagged and his expression was warm. He stopped at a comfortably amiable distance -- had it been some other time he might have gone up to greet her more directly, maybe with a nose to her cheek or something but again he could only see Cupid's fury, and he felt like that would be too much knowing what he did. But he wasn't jumping right into that, no. I just sent Simmik out to go to your pack -- did you run into her? She wasn't coming from the most direct path from Yuelong, so maybe she hadn't.