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The stuffed radaku was lucky that it was a toy and not real. Otherwise, it would be suffocating from how hard it was being clutched in the little boy's arms. Jex sat outside of Eema's home as far back behind it as he could press himself without falling off the ledge surrounding it. His face was flushed and his breath came in soft, panicked gasps as tears fell over his shallow cheeks. Images of the broken planter flashed and mingled with images of his past.

His new parents... they were sure to be furious. Would they be mad enough to send him back, or would they just discipline like his old family did? If he could just hide and be quite enough, maybe they wouldn't find him and he could avoid either fate..?

Despite the voice being a bare whisper, Jex squeaked out and flinched away. "Jex didn't mean to break it," he hurried to explain. He gasped with realization and looked up with wide, puffy eyes. Ilmryn! He let out a tiny sigh of relief, though he immediately started looking around for anyone following his friend. "Are they lookin' for Jex? Are they angry?" he asked fearfully.

Jex sniffled and rubbed at his eyes with the narrow sleeve of his shirt. Not that he doubted Ilmryn, but he wasn't entirely sure Ilmryn was right either. Surely someone was angry. Maybe they just hadn't found the problem yet? "Jex is fine." He winced slightly and ducked his head down between his shoulders. "There was a big bug on one of the planters. It was eating Eema's plant with the thick circle leaves. Jex just meant to hit the bug, but then the plant got hit, too. It broke into a bunch of pieces." His eyes welled up with fresh tears at the concerning memory. "You think they'll leave Jex behind and take just you?"

The stretching silence was worrisome. It gave him more time to think about his horrible mistake. He could still feel the hard pottery under his palm as the impact sent it flying to the ground. The ear shattering cracks as it hit the ground, and the terrible silence that followed. The leaves of the plant seemed to wilt before his very eyes as it splayed out on the floor!

Jex looked up with surprise at the offer. Well, he did know Ilmryn would prefer to stay. Still- "But Jex doesn't wanna go alone, either" he murmured. "And you shouldn't get punished for Jex being clumsy." He sighed heavily and nuzzled his face against his toy. "Maybe they won't want neither of us anyway if they think we break things." As nervous as he was about joining a new family.. did he really want to lose the chance? He wasn't sure.

He was doomed. The new family wouldn't want him. Maybe even Eema would decide he wasn't worth the trouble and get rid of him now! He would never be taken back by his old family. He would end up like a wadana, digging into the dirt out in the woods to stay alive and-

The suggestion pulled him from the spiraling despair. Replace.. the pot? He blinked away a few tears that had started welling up in his eyes again. Would Eema really not be able to tell? Adults seemed to know everything! But maybe..? He straightened up the slightest bit and tried to talk through soft hiccups from the stress. "Do.. you know where.. more.. pots are?"

The idea settled more and more into his mind, helping his stress soften that much more. Jex wiped at his face a few times and nodded. "He got some.. similar looking pots.. Yeah, that might work." With a little hope lifting his shoulders, he took Ilmryn's hand and gave it a squeeze as he stood. "You're so smart, Ilmryn."

Jex wiped at his eyes again, feeling the reassurance of Ilmryn's confidence soothe his racing heart. They would go find a good replacement pot, somehow, and trade out the planter. Even if Eema did notice, maybe the adults wouldn't be so angry because he'd made it better? Then he and Ilmryn could both go..

One more sniffle accented an enthusiastic nod. "Okay. Jex trusts you. Always!" They would get it fixed together! "Maybe we can even find a nicer pot than Eema had?"