Blacktail Deer Plateau with heavy heart

She hadn't expected or wanted an explanation for Blue Willow's choices, but it came anyway, and Saena stiffened just slightly. She wanted to point out that Atticus hadn't cared enough about her to stay, but caught herself before voicing it. If she was trying to be more mature, then Saena had to be willing to put these opinions of hers to the side and contemplate them before blurting them out, and she was impressed with herself that she managed to do it this time. When Blue Willow finished, she said, "I wanted it, but... well, I wanted my parents to care more. I didn't notice you were hurting. I'm... really sorry, Aunt Willow."

Biting her lip, the mottled youth eagerly listened to Blue Willow talk about the pups. Her insides squirmed even more when the Healer admitted you had to push them out. Push them? she wondered, screwing up her face into one of disgust. "It's like taking a shit?" she asked, but decided not to pursue that thought any further, for the very idea of little shit puppies falling out of her aunt was enough to make her want to retch. Thankfully, Blue Willow had presented another topic and, although sad, it was something less disgusting to Saena.

"It wasn't your fault she died," Saena said quickly, shaking her head. "I didn't know she was hurt, but that makes it her fault. She should've been more careful." It was so easy to talk about her dead mother, but of course, that was only because she'd never met her. If Pied had been part of her life, then it would've been much harder, of that Saena had no doubt. "I'm sure you did what you could. Just... don't get hurt yourself, okay?"