Perhaps she should have regretted the words as they slipped past her mouth – or maybe she could’ve taken it as something different, something interesting. But no, the reaction she garnered was something that she should have been expecting – but instead she wasn’t exactly predicting the personal attack. Her ears swiveled, pinning momentarily against her skull before a small laugh escaped her lips. “Ugly hag” had caught her attention, and it was insulting as much as it was simply funny to her. She didn’t think she looked like an ugly hag, no. That would be something better situated for someone that appeared as though they had no place to be, to purpose. Oh, she had a purpose though. And thus, having such an end in sight, she knew she wasn’t one to resemble much of a hag. “Oh, that hurts.” She admitted, stifling another little giggle.

But the stallion wasn’t done, and Aelfwine nearly watched in anticipation of his next set of words. But it was bit more honest, carrying that vicious glare as though it was like daggers stabbing into the dappled pelt of the antlered girl. She tilted her head slightly, pondering what she could even say in response to him with that. Everyone had somewhere to go, or at least they should. Even if they thought they didn’t have anything, she knew that deep down everyone had the power to do whatever they wanted. They just needed to let go of the strings connecting them to such sadness. Before she could speak to him, he piped up once again, tossing in a strange nickname that caused Aelfwine’s ears to flicker in uncertainty until the last half of his sentence made her smile lightly. “No. I like a little help, though.” She winked to him before shaking her head, shifting her weight and returning her attention back to him.

“You know, you don’t have to be alone, Ryouta.” Her voice had taken on a softer tone, no longer the pointed and blunt harassing phrases she had put together. This was earnest and honest, despite all the horrible things he wanted to call her. She was used to hearing strange words and mean phrases, but it was easy for the doe to forget about them and not take them to heart when she had a family to return to. And despite everything she said, she wished everyone else had the luxury of having someone they could trust.