well, this wasn't how i wanted it to go

Through all of her own commotion and crying, she didn't hear Strai approach. Not even the branches and thorns poking and prodding him alerted her to his presence. Not until he spoke.

Delphi.

He'd never said her name before. His nickname for her had been Toxic. Never once had she heard him say her own name. The sound struck a cord in her heart. Her tears slow as she begins to sniffle, slowly scooting around until she can see his larger form through the shadows of the thicket. He hadn't deserved her lashing out at him like that. He didn't deserve to be stuck in the thicket either. He'd only been playing, right? But it had seemed so... serious. So terrifying. So much like that moment. Delphi closes her eyes tightly as she shakes away the bad feelings. No. He hadn't meant it. If he had, why would he chase after her? Why would he say her real name now...

"I-I'm sorry, Strai," Delphi whispers as she army crawls closer to where he is bound by sticks and thorns. Her chin is practically scraping across the ground as she can finally see him about a foot away. "I-I don't know what happened," her voice his hoarse as more tears threatened to spill from her eyes. What was wrong with her? Why couldn't she be normal?