He knew that she'd see right through him, heart made of glass and soul - he had a good mix of Lotte's nature in him to break up the seriousness of Hemlock, but he had never exactly tried to keep her out had he? She'd always been privy to his thoughts and he'd always been honest with her. Mostly. Some of his innermost thoughts he buried away, but that wasn't something he'd burden her with. So of course he didn't try and hide anything now, and her scrutiny was done with the best of intentions.

It wasn't his goal to add to her troubles. It had never been his goal. Instead, he felt his place was to ease the tensions she felt, to share the burdens she had. The world was all of theirs, and it wasn't up to just Fable to handle solving their crisis. He wished he'd never had to leave. He wished that he didn't know the sting of losing his siblings, his mothers, his friends here in this world - none of it felt fair. Losing her would prove to be even more painful after all he felt she'd provided to him. He frowned when she said that Shiloh wasn't going - and though it was hard, he held his tongue to hear her out. He couldn't disrespect her by speaking over her, no matter how hard it was.

I know you aren't doing this just for us. Foxglove offered quietly. You go for Dawnbreak as much as you go for Avon. And he didn't want her to be the one to go and make this pilgrimage. What else might she run into on her trip? Fox didn't even get a chance to speak on those thoughts when she'd gently declined him. Fox made a sound - the placative whine that he gave was not one begging for her mercy. He worried for her, for the girls, for her mother and siblings. He was the very last on the list, all he had was Avon's. No one outside of Avon would miss him - hell, no one outside of Avon even knew he existed. How did she not see how important she was, and realize how little he mattered? Foxglove stepped closer, swallowing suddenly when she said she wanted him to protect the girls.

I would give my life. Foxglove said, sincerity in every syllable. There was no time for shared quips, no playful glances. Only the honest, earnest words of a mother given to someone for the sake of her children. Her trust settled around his neck, but he did not find it constricting. It was a special thing, after the hardships she had endured, she still found she had the ability to trust at all. And him. Somehow he had earned her trust. Fable - I....you know I would, but you should stay instead. I'm just... He didn't want to deny her this request, he would swear himself to her - but why was it that she didn't see how needed she was? You could stay. I could go. Your family needs you, Fable.

There was no way that he would ever consider them on equal standing. He could be replaced easily, a rogue male was a dime a dozen. She was precious as the stars in the sky, her soul infinite as their beauty was. Even if he was unable to return in this life, he would wait in rest beneath that eternal night sky.