Almost as soon as she stopped speaking, Ara felt embarrassed for saying so much. She hadn't said this many words to anyone in a long while, and to suddenly open up so much.. well, it probably made her seem a bit silly. Not that she'd ever spent much time caring what other people thought of her, but Athena was a packmate, and someone she respected - even if she didn't know her well. But to speak of Novel, and of her absence? She'd kept that part of her mind under tight lock and key, knowing if she said much about it aloud to anyone else she might crumble entirely. To admit out loud that she might not be coming back was a first for her, though she'd been dwelling on it for awhile now.
She didn't expect to feel the slight brush of Athena's muzzle against her shoulder. Instinctively, she flinched, but once she realized that the woman was merely comforting her posture slackened again. Ara was unused to much physical contact with anyone, and.. it'd been so long. The brief touch was very welcome, despite her reaction, and she wished suddenly it had lasted a moment longer. "No, I'm sorry," she breathed softly, wondering if she should thank her for her kind words. Moreso, she felt she owed her an apology for her sudden rush of emotion - though she really was being quite normal about it all, she just wasn't used to talking to anyone about these things. "I don't mean to be a downer. You'd figure after her being gone for.." Ara paused, as though counting. "It must be over two years now. Anyway, you'd figure that I would've accepted it by now. I guess I don't let go very well." She cast a brief, sad smile in Athena's direction as they continued walking.
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