salt in the wound

Sirius didn't relinquish his hold on her, but at least he wasn't trying to completely maul her. She felt a little bit of his weight lift off her back when she started to speak. It wasn't enough for her to slide out from beneath him, but she wasn't about to try. His question made her furrow her brow tightly, concern written all over her features. "Yeah, Ophie's my best friend. Has been since we were kids. I don't really hang around in one place for long so we've been in and out of contact for a long time but - I've been hanging around these parts for a good while now, wanting to spend more time with her. She's the best thing in my life, I think. I'm pretty sure I love her, if I'm really being honest," she hardly took a breath as the words rolled out, picking up momentum before she had to a chance to stop them.

"So... she would've told me if she was going anywhere. At least I think. That's why I got so worried," Kaija explained. Wait, her mother had died? At first, she'd worried maybe someone here had done something to Ophie but there was something in Sirius's demeanor that seemed too genuine to ignore. It didn't seem like he was faking his sudden worry. "I didn't know her mom died. I haven't seen her in awhile. I thought she was just.... y'know, busy doing pack things, training, whatever. I had no idea." If she'd known, Kaija would've been there for her, waiting at the borders to console her or distract her or whatever she needed.