Moonsong Glacier gumboots

He agreed so readily. Bat felt her muscles soften with relief even as a tickle of warmth suffused her at Tegan's phrasing. He didn't seem burdened by the suggestion at all. He was happy to look out for her and take her along as a miniature sidekick and that meant a lot to her. She favored him with a huge grin.

It disappeared in the next instant. "No," Bat said immediately, then felt a fresh wave of guilt. She hadn't realized how unbearable she found Wildfire until after nomi had left them alone with her. She loved the redhead, of course, but she felt almost rigid with resentment at what would happen if they turned up at Drageda's borders and pitched this plan. Not only would Wildfire reject it out of hand, she would likely never let the Goufa—now a flowering scout—out of her sight again, much less beyond the borders.

More calmly, she repeated herself: "No. She'd never let me go. And then she'd ground me forever." She shook her head, large ears flapping quietly. "I've already made my bed, now I have to lie in it. Or however that saying goes." Bat blinked. "I'll go back, someday. I just can't go back right now." She drew in a slightly shaky breath, then let it out and concluded, "I'm going with you."