Broken Boulder ten detected, nine in a wreck and

He didn't smile back, and hers faded, settling into a neutral, almost worried expression as she continued to pluck flowers. After a small but respectable pile had been gathered, she looked back up at him, ears rotating in uncertainty. Her mouth opened to speak, but nothing came out. She didn't force the air up her throat that would surely emerge as garbled nonsense. Tears came to her eyes.

Lily looked away, a single drop spilling down her cheek, arranging her pile into a different shape for lack of anything better to take her mind off the pain. She sniffled, drawing her paw over her face before clearing her throat and continuing to work in silence.

She didn't know how he felt about her. Was it resentment he held, or guilt? Lanawyn had looked at her like she'd killed someone. Everyone else had been scarce. Lily felt like a complete twat. Both for the short-sighted decision she'd made to leave, and by putting herself in the position to get hurt in the first place. Now she had no words, and everyone hated her.