let's not dance around the issue

His frustration only grew, and he wondered at the jarring differences between them. Despite a friendship in their youth, there was little they truly knew about each other. He wasn’t willing to give her what she wanted. Not yet, not right now. She wasn’t willing to understand the burning hurt he hid behind his smile. He wondered if this tug of war might yet break them, and shook his head sadly. He moved carefully around the words of how much he cared about her, and she refused to hear beyond the perceived rejection.

Did he want a mate that refused to look beneath the surface? That couldn’t see he wanted to wait because - unlike her - he hadn’t had a chance to come to terms with his losses? He didn’t know. Truly. But it brought emphasis to his desire to give them time. He watched as she got to her paws, and left him there.

He waited until she was out of view, before walking to the edge of the sand. Where the chilling water lapped at the tips of his toes. Where he could look out at the horizon, and think of his little sisters, his brash brothers. His stern father, and the mother who had always tried to hold her little ones close. He tried so hard not to think of them, but with his heart heavy in his chest he knew how badly he would have wanted their guidance.


"Speech"