Swiftcurrent Creek All I Can Say Is

this was great! <3!

She didn't expect sympathy from him, but to be insulted while she grappled with the pain of having been handled so roughly tipped her over the edge of her emotional overload. Her first serving of humble pie tasted bitter- just the way it was supposed to. She felt her eyes burn, and hot tears welled on the cusp of her eyelids, blurring her vision. Defeat was harder to stomach that she had anticipated- but then again, she had gone into the brawl assuming that in some way, she might win. 

Precariously, she rose one foot at a time, wobbling as she took her first couple of steps forward. The shift of her ribs in her stride caused her to wince, so she moved with short, careful steps. With her ears splayed and her head lowered, she ambled as quietly as a lamb back to the den knowing that Arlette might have something that would help-

and perhaps a shred of sympathy as well.