It was late enough in the afternoon that shadows were falling across the bridge as Teige and Yoshi walked it towards the Palace, which lay spread out below them. The sky was livid blue and cloudless above the green plains. Teige finally broke the silence between them.

"Aah, I'm sorry," he mumbled. "I ent had a peaceable night's sleep in a time, honestly. Mebbe meditating in a big dark room wasn't my best idea to start with."

Yoshi didn't answer. The silence hung long enough that Teige craned his neck around to look at her, as she was lagging slightly behind him.

"Er," he said, "all right there, kiddo?"

Yoshi stopped dead and looked at him. For a moment neither of them said anything--but then, suddenly, Teige was horrified to see tears welling up in Yoshi's eyes.

"...I don't know if I can do this," she said.

"D-Do what?!" Teige exclaimed. "Oh god, don't cry!!"

It was too late though, as the tears spilled down Yoshi's cheeks. She looked down, her voice strangled as she spoke in a rush, twisting the strap of her bag in her hands.

"I-I'm sorry. I j-just don't th-think I can learn to change my shape. I-I'm wasting your time. I-I'm sorry," she repeated, softer this time.