Neverwinter Forest she feels free.

His ears folded back more, and he did a good job at staring at the ground, gaze occasionally flicking back to her. Perhaps what Miriam was saying was supposed to be comforting somehow, but the message that got through was 'no, but consolation prize.' She apparently had some sort of direction and this was her head pat and 'you tried' to Mal. He tried to smile in return, but it was weak. He didn't have much to say -- well, anything, really. While Miriam might be free of whatever cloud had hung over her, Mal's had formed again, and he started bottling it all up to bury.

When he did speak in reply to her thanks, it was controlled, trying to make none of it bug him, Just.. Let me know how I can help. Now all he wanted was to go back to Hua. He couldn't now, but she was the one he was certain of -- instead, maybe he'd go back to Aibreann again. Even if he still had questions, he could put them aside. He did like her, but all that went on in the pack made him feel doubts. But he lingered. Because he wasn't sure if there was more.