It felt strange to be this affected, rendered inert and practically speechless, for seeing the glee in the other girl's eyes would normally have set her off entirely, but everything was happening at once and miraculously, Ruenna Tainn was being left in the dust, unable to keep up. There was something in Triell's eyes which just entranced her. Even as the chocolate girl came up to welcome her to the family - because Rue had a family again holy shit this was real - all she could muster was a grin and wag of the tail, a fraction of her usual enthusiasm.
And the reason for her dampeners made itself clear at her uncle's question, the one she had dreaded.
Perhaps her expression said it all, the way she wilted, her smile pained as her brows knitted together. "No," she whispered, and felt herself break apart just a little bit more at acknowledging it, at having to say that to one of the few wolves who would be similarly torn apart by it. "It's... just me."