Blackbeak Bluff lamentando

There was a time when her presence would have tied his tongue up. When he would have met her with cheerful surprise or anticipatory curiosity. Instead he did not even bother looking up.

It has to be. Doesn’t matter, though. I can’t. He replied, his words somewhat broken by the shaking of his shoulders.

He should be able to. He was no good to anyone here. He was no father. He was no mate. He was no fighter, no leader, and certainly no healer. All he had were useless songs. When it really mattered, Ashlar had never managed to make a difference. It was time for him to stop acting like he could.

Maybe shitty is all some of us deserve.