Deepwood Weald father

Angel lifted a pale brow at the denial. Really, though, it ought not to shock her that the boy would be reluctant to share his woes, or to even be seen crying. She'd had quite enough of Valiant's stoicism by the end of their little jaunt, and she hoped that he would not instill it in Ludovic.

"Right," she said, not unkindly. "I always cry in the woods when I'm okay."

But, actually, she sort of did. Sadness wasn't wrong, after all.

"It's okay, though," she said, taking a different tact. "We don't have to talk about it. But I mean — maybe I've been through somethin' kinda similar, y'know? Losing my pack, my dad, half my sisters. And now we have new family."

She offered him a wan smile.

"But if you really want, I can leave you alone."