I huffed quietly as he tried to dismiss his pain, but he was my soul after all, he couldn't hide these things from me. The wince made me roll my eyes slightly as it was completely contrary to what he had just said. I knew that he wanted to appear strong in front of me, but it was a little ridiculous when I could smell the blood on him and see the pain in even the smallest of movements. I couldn't help but blush at his next statement, my tail giving a few shy wags. "I guess I'll just have to never leave your side until you're better, then." I said teasingly, trying to hide my giddiness. I felt like such a girl at the moment, all blushy and bashful and sweet and shy. It was so unlike me, and I both loved and hated the side of me that Hollow brought out.

My ears gave a small flick as he answered me. I hadn't formally met his sister, she had been at the Taviora hunt but we had never gotten the chance to speak. Now I was somewhat glad that we hadn't spoken, as she seemed to be a little bit... aggressive. I frowned as he said that he chose to stay here over going with his sister to Taviora. Selfishly, I was glad that he had chosen to stay here instead of following Astrid, but it couldn't have been easy for him to make the choice. I wondered if that choice had something to do with me.

"I'm sorry." I said quietly, but I didn't want to bring him down even further, so I tried to make light of the situation as best as I could. "Well, if it means anything, I'm glad you chose to stay here. The mountains are much better than that stuffy old forest anyway." It was true, though, nothing could take the place of my mountain home. I hoped that Hollow felt the same way, but it was very much possible that he liked the mountain's inhabitants more than the mountain itself.

I bumped my nose against his cheek as he leaned his head down, as he again tried to downplay his injuries. I snorted then, pulling back and staring at him almost accusingly. "I'm only worried because I care about you." I said sharply, almost surprised at my own words. But I was quick to follow up with something less sappy, didn't want him to think that I cared too much after all. "Next time you leave the pack, you'd better not come back all beaten up again, or I just might have to follow you everywhere. Like an annoying fly that keeps buzzing in your ear."