A quiet place to be

Initially, Ivy had stayed mostly because he felt responsible for her. She relied on him. It gave him a sense of purpose that he hadn't had in a long time. Making sure he kept Lia fed and safe and on the way to recovery... that was enough. Maybe it had taken more out of him than he cared to admit. Ivy was accustomed to his own company and little else. With Lia to keep him company, the days seemed to pass more gently. Her presence chased away the fog of lonesomeness that had colored nearly every move he'd made since getting separated from his brother. That was enough. That was more than enough. Ivy refused to admit that he was getting tired.

Returning with an early spring hare clasped in his jaws, a better result than he'd had lately, the look on the red girl's face struck him. He felt a squeeze in his chest, setting the meal down before her and taking a step back. "What's wrong?" The tremble to her lip, the look on her face... had something happened? Had something bad happened? Ivy found himself worried.

"Words"