Moonspear the smallest steps bring about the most lasting change.

His reassurances didn’t help as much as they should have. She knew it was unhealthy, relying on others so much and yet fearing her reliance was the only thing keeping them around. It was a pattern she’d been actively trying to break but it seemed like that insecurity loved rearing it’s ugly head too much when it came to the ones she loved.

He didn’t ask about the last year and she didn’t want to talk about it, really. She couldn’t be his problem to fix anymore, even if she desperately wanted him to want her to be. She wouldn’t force him into that place again. Maybe things would have gone better for her if she hadn’t run. Maybe if Penn had actually stuck around, asked her to come with, she would have been able to laugh and joke about things and wouldn’t have spent a year trying to piece herself back together. Or maybe they’d have fought, just like she had with Fig, just like she had with Bronco, and they would have been done too.

It was pointless thinking about maybe.

She tried to find the right words, and settled on ones that felt the most honest. Fennec would carry whatever hurt she carried, but they all needed to just move forward. What are you doing next? I.. She hesitated, then resolved. Clearly he could make his own decisions now. I want you to stay. But it’s okay if you don’t. Obviously. She had no right to be upset, and even if she couldn’t force her feelings not to be, she could choose not to hold it against him. So she wouldn’t.