He looked at her. It must be obvious that he was in pain. "It's not that," he began. He didn't know how to say it.

Karin looked at him curiously, her eyes kind and gentle.

He took a deep breath and continued. "You remind me of my mother. She was as sweet and innocent as you are." He looked away, slightly embarassed by what he had just said.

Karin felt a little confused on whether this was a compliment or not so she just looked down. "Sounds like you really loved her... I'm sorry."

He shrugged. "It's not your fault. It's mine."

Karin looked at him confused. "How can it be your fault? All you're doing is missing your mother. There's nothing wrong with that." She smiled softly at him. "We're stuck with each other now, so if you need to talk, my ears are open."

He shook his head. "It is my fault that she is dead. We were out in the woods and I didn't save her." Tears welled in his eyes.

Karin looked at him, her eyes wide but sympathetic. "I'm so sorry..." She put a gentle hand on his shoulder. "I'm sure she doesn't blame you. If it were me I would just be happy that you're still alive and well."

Tarvo scoffed softly, sounding harsh when he didn't mean to. "My father has never forgiven me. I have been trying to make up for that by looking after my sisters. They don't know but if they did, they would never talk to me again."

Karin looked at him sadly and just wrapped her sun warmed arms around him. Holding him silently.

Tarvo was a little stunned, but he hugged her back. She was warmer now that she had started to dry off. Certainly a lot warmer than this morning. He shut his eyes and tried to breathe evenly, not wanting to cry in front of her.

Karin rubbed his back and murmured softly. "It's ok. No one's here besides us. You can let it out..."

He shook his head softly. "I can't."

"Why not?" She asked still holding him and stroking his back.

Tarvo couldn't say. He didn't want to sound strange. He buried his face into her shoulder and tried not to choke on the tears that were threatening him.

"Tarvo. It's ok. Everyone needs to cry some time. Just let it out..."

Tarvo shook his head again. "I can't. I won't." His mouth felt dry and his eyes filled with tears that he wouldn't allow to fall.

Karin didn't know what to do, she just continued to hold him and rubbed his back, she began to hum softly to him.

Tarvo pulled away from Karin after a long while. "We should be getting back." The sun was quickly beginning to set in the afternoon sky. "It'll be dark soon."

Karin nodded and stood up, stretching and she smiled kindly at him. "Let's go."

Tarvo nodded sharply and dove into the water, swimming back to the cave and onto the other side of the pond. He dragged himself out of the water and waited for Karin to catch up.

Karin looked after him confused but followed suit.

When Karin had caught up, Tarvo kept moving. He stepped over fallen logs and trees lazily, the pain of the memory washing over him. Sadness entered his heart and mind and he began to draw away from Karin physically and emotionally, which he didn't mean to do.

Karin looked at him sadly as they walked, she could tell he was hurting and didn't want her to see but she didn't like him pulling away from her. She moved over to him and held his hand as they walked, not looking at him, a silent reminder that he could trust her.

Tarvo looked at Karin from the corner of his eye. She was so much like his mother that it was painful to look at her sometimes. He squeezed her hand gently and kept walking until they reached the tree.