Saba had gone quiet after Asta explained how Molaki and her had changed. Changed each other. The warrior woman used a thin stick to poke around the charred ground, making small circles in the ash.
"I'm sorry," Asta blurted.
"Sorry for what?" Saba asked, genuinely confused for a brief second, forgetting, like Molaki kept doing, that Asta couldn't be lied to anymore to spare her feelings.
Saba was... sad. She was happy for Asta, truly, but there was a seeping jealousy that she was desperately trying to overcome. True Pairs were so rare anymore, that finding yours hadn't becoming an anticipated musing for every pup, waiting for the day. Instead, it was just a hopeful ache now, one that many young people left to the wayside entirely.
