Bonesplinter Ravine pack it up

elowen blinked up at lorcan as his voice brushed low against her ear, his words sinking in like cold water. Don’t need you wandering off on your own, dove. there was nothing sharp in his tone, nothing outright dismissive, but it coiled tightly in her chest all the same. her ears twitched, and she offered him a small nod as though she understood before lowering her gaze again.

was it her suggestion? did he think it wasn’t good enough? or worse—did he think she wasn’t good enough? was she too fragile, too soft to venture off even for a moment?

the flicker of warmth in his gaze only made it harder to reconcile, her heart tugging between gratitude and a quiet ache. she wanted to believe he said it out of care, out of protectiveness, but a tiny voice gnawed at the edges of her mind, whispering that maybe he simply didn’t trust her instincts, didn’t think she could handle herself.

she stayed close to his side, but her thoughts churned in the stillness between their steps. she glanced at envy ahead, the other wolf’s stride filled with a confidence that seemed so effortless, so sure. it made elowen shrink further into herself, questioning if she would ever seem so capable in his eyes—or her’s.