sick of my small heart, made of steel

Though Azure accepted her show of affection there was a degree of austerity in his response, as though she was only a side note to be barely acknowledged. That did not sit well with her, how could it? She shifted, the muscles in her shoulders tensing a little as she desperately sought out comfort in his touch. He may have lost the fight, but hadn't he staked his claim on her all the same? For a lack of better words he had won, why was he letting Sparrow's posturing get to him? She thought-rather selfishly- he would be happy and with a little time to heal they'd be able to fall back into the sweet routine they'd set for themselves. Perhaps it would take longer than she'd first thought.

Azure soon admitted the Willows had been spoiled for him. If he could, she knew he would have stomped out there and shooed them off but given the clash at the border the other day the Armada was already treading on thin ice. The pack was not as strong as it used to be; Hanako didn't have to be a diplomat to know there was nothing to be gained from picking fights in early winter. When no doubt the worst of the season was yet to come.

"Thank you for fighting for me." She knew if nothing else a gracious show of gratitude might help smooth things over. "To me...it didn't matter what she said. I'd already chosen you and spiteful words can't change that."

And that's what she was forced to frame them as, pointed jabs foisted over the border with the intention of planting seeds of doubt. She couldn't help but worry they'd take root and do exactly what Sparrow intended. There was truth to them but also lies and embellishments, smearing her name in the mud. She let out a shaky sigh, hurt clawing its way into her voice and forming a lump in the pit of her throat.

"I'm upset." She sniffed, now it was her turn to look away and avoid eye contact. On the verge of tears she continued. "She...said such awful things, but doesn't even know me. I- I just don't understand why she did that."