Around, Broken In Two

The knock is answered quickly, Bowen appearing as the door creaks inward. Fern has never been good at hiding her emotions and tonight is no different. The inner turmoil she feels rolls across her face and the caramel and cream wolf slips out of her room. Without a word, Bowen signals for the gray girl to follow her, which she does. It is a quiet trek to the great hall, the women moving silently through the candle lit halls. Bowen moves to the fire and begins to make tea which allows Fern a moment to settle into one of the large cushions by the fire. Her shoulders are tense and the muscles in her neck are chorded from the stress she feels. Eyes latch onto the crackling fire while she allows her mind to wander.

Only when the tea in laid before her does Fern’s attention snap back to the present. She mumbles a soft thank you as she picks up the dish between her paws and pulls it up toward her face. Inhaling deeply, Fern enjoys the sweet, floral scent of the tea and a small smile pulls at her lips as she looks to Bowen. Paws lower the dish as uncertainty causes her voice to stick for a moment. Clearing her throat, Fern begins softly, “I… I needed to apologize to you. The hunt didn’t go the way I thought it would. I was too eager to prove myself and I could have gotten any one of you killed.”

A soft, deep sigh escapes as Fern pauses to take a sip of the tea, her suddenly dry throat enjoying the soothing warmth. Casting her eyes down to dish with her tea, the girl lifts a paw and absently runs her paw pad around the edge. After a moment, she says, “But… more than that, I want to apologize for not taking the time to speak with you more. You mean a lot to Rudyard and I… would like to get to know you better.” Eyes slowly move up to capture Bowen’s emerald gaze, a pang of sadness resounds through her as she remembers her mother’s own bright green gaze. Eyes fall back down her paw and the dish, unable to look Bowen right now.


"Fern Lark"