Hushed Willows Every day I've got a smile where my frown goes

Mae pressed closer and Reverie wrapped her more fully in her arms, cradling the wounded youth as if she were a much younger child, as if she were her own. Tears filled her own eyes as the girl sobbed into her fur. She didn't know what to say. Jakoul's abandonment, Mae's wounds, Akavir's inexplicable absence; a string of tragedies, and Reverie was helpless to soothe any of these hurts.

But she was here now, and safe. Wasn't that what mattered?

Oh, Mae... Reverie breathed when the girl spoke again, struggling against her own grief. Her voice was tremulous. Swiftcurrent Creek is - it's not a - a kind place for women. Her arms tightened around Mae as if to protect her from such horrors even now, even so far from that awful place. She thought of Akavir now, and her heart hardened. He didn't deserve to be a father. Not if this was how he left his children.