Greatwater Lake roped up, rat in a cage

She cowered, and—
 
The energy left him, suddenly, like a candle extinguished in the wind or left out in the rain.
 
He stood there, awkwardly, and woodenly, his posture low and slouched. His ears rolled back against his head before rolling forward again and his gaze followed the direction she turned out towards the lake before settling once more on the back of her head.
 
And, at long last—

“You fucked up.”
 
It wasn’t a question.