Something to hide

Once Phea returned to the nook, she put her tie safety under her pillow (she didn't want it to get torn again) and hid away behind some bushes outside to do some thinking. She was still shaken by the frosty look received by Eerie.

She had all the right to be angry at me Phea thought miserably. As she sat pondering the cloudy sky grew dark, as if a curtain was drawn over the sky.

Suddenly a snap rang through the silence of the night, wrenching Phea out of her thoughts and sending her fur on end. She whirled her head round, slit pupils scanning the dimly lit area to spot an approaching wyngro.

"Oh Phea! It is me, Retiri!"

Phea's shoulders sank in relief but her face ceased to change from its look of fear.

"My, I was wondering where you were. I was getting rather worried. I have not seen you as jumpy as this before!" Retiri noticed Phea's face and hesitated. 

"Are...are you okay?" He asked worryingly. It wasn't unusual for Phea to ask slightly nervous every now and then - but tonight was different. The way Phea scooted slightly as he moved to sit by her, Retiri noticed it was almost as if...Phea was afraid of him.

After an unpleasant pause Phea replied shrill:

"Er...H-hi Retiri! Didn't see you there! Yeah, I'm fine...haha!"

Phea tried to plaster on an exaggerated smile, yet she couldn't bring herself to look at Retiri. The red wyngro was unconvinced. 

Did he know too? Phea asked herself in horror. The thought sent a small shiver through her, but Retiri still noticed.

"Good gracious, you must be freezing!" Retiri stated, adjusting his own yellow sweater as he did so; he knew that Phea wanted to be left alone, but he wanted to help his friend. "Would you like me to make some oolong tea?"

Truthfully, Phea was freezing; a wind had begun to blow through Wynsiph and despite the fact that Phea was covered with fur, the bitter cold still froze her skin.

Phea also would have wanted to have tea more than anything at that moment, especially if it was Retiri's famed oolong tea. Her eyes lit up for a split moment before darkening upon the remembrance of her problem. She turned her head away in shame.

How could she do something as casual as that with her friend after... 

Phea averted her eyes, shaking her head.

Retiri knew something was definitely wrong with Phea, if she was declining his special oolong tea.

"You do not have to be scared; whatever is troubling you Phea, I am always here for you." He put a paw on her back reassuringly. "You can tell me anything."

Phea could feel tears welling up. She should tell him. She had to. The truth was...she was too scared. Phea was unsure whether Retiri would remain friends with her if she did tell him.

Phea's response was silent but Retiri knew that he should leave. He stood up, hesitantly. He opened his mouth to ask a question, but shook his head. 

Better not ask her about the tie. She has probably got too much on her plate already Retiri thought as he bid her goodnight and returned indoors.

Once he had left, Phea sighed in despair. How long could she keep this up without telling Retiri the truth?

(555 words)

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MMHMMM she's hiding something  

Part 2 (3?) of this.

next: cloakatta.deviantart.com/art/W…

The spiffling fancygro Retiri belongs to

Phea belongs to me

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weekly prompt (3)
2 busts (2)

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