Until Lambs Become Lions

Initially, Gavroche had thought standing up for his values against the colorful Raider girl was all he would need to worry about… and then he saw his aunt’s wound. A wound she wouldn’t have if it wasn’t for him… for him trying to do what he thought was the right thing to do. For trying to help. To say that it shattered the boy in a sense would be an understatement. The realization that his actions had caused someone he cared about to get hurt… he hadn’t looked at Haydée once, nor had he breathed a word to Ikuchi since she had arrived… but his gaze had lingered on the wound, eyes widened with horror before dropping down to his paws.

He felt sick, angry with himself, frustrated… Everything he thought he knew about helping others, about trying to be kind… it crashed and burned around him. Was he even meant to try and stand up for Ethne? Would he just get in the way? Get more wolves hurt? It made him question if he was even supposed to go back… or if his presence alone was a curse… His grandmother had said Dusk was recovering… and now his aunt was hurt too… were both of the ones he cared about hurt because of something he did? Would it be better if he wasn’t around anyone at all?

They stop, something that Gavroche only notices by sound. He still doesn’t look at his aunt, but as he is addressed he gives a silent nod of acknowledgement. He wasn’t sure he’d ever seek out any pack again, good or bad. Maybe he shouldn’t even hang out with others, if those he loved were getting hurt. It couldn’t just be a coincidence… right? He had to be the reason they were hurt. That… that was why his grandma didn’t let him see Dusk… she probably wasn’t going to let him see Hay either… He kept following after her. A meeting…? He felt his heart sink. He didn’t want to make things worse… so he’d stick around. He just walked further away from where he expected everyone else to be, sitting down and dropping his head down. He just wanted to go hide and let these bad events come to an end…

"Speech," 'Thought.'