Redhawk Caldera heartstone

Eljay felt his breath catch in his throat, panic threatening to spill over the filled up bucket in his mind. He barely registered Teya's touch through misty eyes. He knew that Teya needed to do what was good for her, but he could not escape the feeling that he was being abandoned, and no matter how many times she said that it was not so, that it was somehow his fault that she was leaving. He should've realised how bad it was, he should've sought her out earlier, he should've... Something.

Her words barely registered, too, and he certainly could not think of anything as eloquent as his mate did; he was grateful that she stepped up. He just stood there, trying to control his quickening breath and misty eyes — and failing horribly — while Maia hugged Teya.

Then, a final attempt rushed from his hurrying lips — But if Brecheliant is love and family, how can you leave? He had not meant to sound so accusatory. Cursed himself for his inability to give his feelings shape. I mean — If you're doing bad — You need us — We need to help you — Like family. He understood the concept of a reset, though the ones he'd taken had never done him any good, and were irrational decisions. The only good 'resets' he had made were the ones where he had chosen to actually leave, find something better; find Maia, and find Brecheliant, in the end.

Perhaps that's why this felt more like a choice of abandonment rather than a need for a reset.