Bearclaw Valley gold run

towhee studies him over their meal for a moment, analyzing as if he were a war map spread over a great table and she the commander trying best to deduce the next logical move. thus, she cannot help but try to deduce a double meaning. did 'better now' mean that he was better now that he was not plagued by her season? sure, she felt the same way if that was true but was he spending time with her because he felt obligated? because he felt guilt?

but he laughs, heartily and perhaps a bit bashfully, attempting to hide it? she tries to observe.

-better now that my season is over?- she asks in ptero, seeking clarification. it is harder for her, without being able to hear afflictions or tones in someone's voice ... and though micro-expressions can be very telling, they can been schooled to convey something else.

she takes another bite of the beaver, her chewing slowing as she watches his paws, picking out the individual words but unable to piece them together in any sort of order that made sense. her brow furrows as she swallows and her gaze rises from his paws to his.

-what?- though she suspects the question signed in ptero was unnecessarily; no doubt her confused expression spoke volumes enough for her.