Was that a girl thing, or just a product of the awful day she had? Lotus didn't know, and didn't care. The shame was the same either way. "I broke... my promise. I should've waited... practicing transformation was... too dangerous."

"Yes," he said again, just as confidently as the last time. "But you've suffered enough for that mistake. That was your home. Nopony should have to go through that."

That was it—Lotus was properly crying now, surrounded by old duffel bags in the back of her pickup truck. The camping gear she was standing on might be the last things she owned that were left, except for anything her parents left in the attic.

Iron Feather held her, without apparent fear. He stood still and let her cry for as long as she needed.