Open Finished Evening Rendezvous

Hal listened to her reply. He couldn't really blame her. A person can actually act by the way they perceive themselves. He wasn't any different, he thought to himself. Hal tried to give her a small smile despite his still somewhat bitter mood. "'Guess I'm right, huh." he echoed her words.

"I really don't think people should think badly about themselves," Hypocrite. "because it reflects into their own conduct." He didn't think of himself any better either and for that reason he had always been over-sensitive. It certainly showed. "At least that's what I think." he continued, stepping off his rock pedestal by the water's edge.

"Say, I didn't catch your name...?"

"Hal." He replied nonchalantly. "That's... Harper D-Daniel Dionne. But call me whatever you like." he followed after a pause. He was used to only saying his nickname but having someone introduce themselves so formally made him feel obligated to do the same. He wasn't exactly fond of his second given name, either.

Now that they weren't at each other's throats, Hal figured Claire wasn't really all that bad. If she was capable of talking to him without getting on his nerves, then she was at the very least an okay person. That and she can smile too. Unlike some people. It was usually one without the other.

"Anyway. I was just wondering. Were you seriously raised by wolves?" He suddenly asked. He couldn't imagine it actually happening in real life. He was partially wishing it was just a cover-up story.

Hal was afraid she would say that. It was a little hard for him to believe. As far as he knew, kids raised by animals were feral and he only knew one or two stories about it. But as he listened to Claire's story, he found where the difference was. She had a family, but she left and instead, found comfort around animals he was so scared of. Animals were dangerous; that was practically his philosophy in life. He couldn't understand how Claire survived in the woods, nor he could even imagine it. But he couldn't understand animals either; and yet she can. Maybe that was it.

"That sounds crazy." Hal blurted out right after. A short pause. "But yeah.. I guess there are just people who aren't really good at raising kids." Hal was actually thinking of his parents. He felt like he was abandoned and if he wasn't terrified of animals, maybe it would have been better if he was raised like Claire. But who was he to say there wasn't any other alternative for him?

"Why'd you run away though?" he asked, "I mean yeah, you hated your home but... any particular reason...?"

For a second, Hal expected it was the usual rebellious kid things. (Not like his; Hal's parental issues were different. At least he thinks so.) Hal didn't try to interrupt. He knew there was something after that. Hal just stood there as she sat down and curled up to herself. Hal didn't even say anything and waited.

Claire had made it clear she was angry with them but he didn't know why; not until she had to spell it out for him. It didn't feel like he stepped on a landmine; for Hal it felt worse than that. There was a gross feeling in him at the thought of anyone having to go through that sort of abuse. He couldn't say he understood what it was like, but he could say at least he knew there was a really strong reason behind it.

He gave her a moment before he let himself speak again. "I'm sorry... I had you talk about it." Hal said quietly. He was regretting even asking now. "I shouldn't have asked. I guess I know at least why those wolves mean so much to you."

Hal wasn't ever sure what to say when it came down to these things. He didn't expect she would even say something like that to someone she had just met. Hal considered that maybe she thought she could trust him. A moment of silence. A sigh. "I don't really hate wolves. Or any animal. To tell you the truth, I've been scared of animals since I had too many accidents with them way back when I was younger. I guess I just never wanted to admit that to anyone because it sounds really stupid."

Hal hummed in thought. "I figured I should tell you. Since you can talk to animals and all... I can't do anything if you really do call them out." He let out a stiffled laugh. It was terrifying to find a person who can easily talk to animals. She could ask them whatever she wanted them to do. He'd have been in a bad position to be on her bad side.

"But it's alright though. I mean neither of us knew each others problems." He wasn't sure what else to say. "I had a pet cat before if that makes any difference. My parents took her away after she accidentally bit my hand before. I actually miss her but imagining having a pet is a little uncomfortable..."

Stella was his only best friend then. But then that happened. And then a bunch of other things. Now he can't keep a pet anymore.