Swiftcurrent Creek At the ballet

Cygnet shuddered when she heard Eshe's voice ring out. 

She'd left. And while the girl knew none of the details about why she'd gone, her departure read as I don't want you anymore. She felt hurt that someone who'd once saved her life had simply left like that, regardless of the cause. And rather than becoming suspicious of Akavir, she found herself wondering- with the finest shred of empathy- if he was doing alright. 

She moped now because Arlette had been away for the night after going to check on Arric. Cygnet could read between the lines, and had been up for most of the night waiting for Arlette to return and check on her. Her ribs smarted; every breath ached, and while the poppy seed had given her some relief, time passed and the medication wore off. Now, between worry and resentment, it returned- and she made things more difficult for herself more out of spite than any other reason. 

She whimpered and whined. She wanted to scream and howl so that Arlette would leave Arric and come tend to her, but at the same time, she couldn't bear what might happen if she did- and if Arlette chose to be with Arric instead. 

Dejected, she left the den with slow, heavy steps. She felt the need to sob but when she did, she cried out in pain. Thus, she began to succumb to a vicious cycle of misery that beget more misery as she found her way to a small hidey hole that she'd found that was big enough only for her. A small den which had likely once belonged to a badger or something of that size; almost too tight for her but if she curled up, it cradled her like a cocoon. When she would not take a hug from anyone else, this was the best alternative. She shivered a bit, as the cold earth embraced her, whimpering softly, mournfully, overtired and emotionally spent.