Phoenix Maplewood I don't feel connected to all of your lies.

Despite mentions of chaos and hell, Etienne insisted there wasn’t much to say. Cambria’s lips parted, then pressed together again. He wouldn’t push. But then Etienne offered some details that made the yearling’s heart sink. He couldn’t just sympathize, he could empathize.

I’m sorry, he said, aware it was a platitude. Being left behind is such a terrible feeling, whether or not it can be helped, Cambria said, picturing his own mother’s face before banishing it from his mind. Losing two loved ones at once sounds unbearable, he continued, although I suppose there’s hope you’ll see one of them again.

He tentatively moved closer, until only a few feet spanned between them. Cambria had no idea what he was doing—all of this was completely unprecedented—until he was doing it. He balanced his weight on three legs as he raised a foreleg to reach for Etienne’s shoulder, though he paused to ascertain the man’s permission before making contact.