Moonspear ^_________________________^

Pie’s brows furrowed at Pala’s clipped reply, the immediate dismissal it implied. She had hoped it was clear that she only wanted to better understand the woman and her points of view. She one day hoped she could pick her brain about matters of the heart, given her experience, and she wasn’t quite sure how to handle being shut down without prejudice.

She said nothing for several moments, the two climbing in increasingly awkward silence. Treepie felt herself growing a little put out by Pala’s reaction. It was her right, especially as Regent, to push the issue. But this wasn’t about a leader sussing out a newcomer, not really, and she didn’t want to force Pala to disclose things in the name of cameraderie. The thought made her lip want to curl, though she tried to keep her feelings off her face.

They reached a plateau, the ground evening out underfoot. Tiuttuk paused to catch her breath, still not sure how to respond. Maybe she was on edge because of what had happened with Glaukos. Perhaps now was not the time to talk to anyone about anything, much less important matters.

I think I’m going to take a bath, she announced. It felt abrupt but there was no avoiding that. I’ll see you later, Pala, Pie added slightly less tersely, realizing even as she spoke that she wasn’t really irritated so much as hurt.