[fancypost bgcolor=transparent; border: none; line-height: 14px; border-radius: 0px; font-size: 11px; text-align: justify; color: silver; font-family: verdana; width: 400px; min-height: 100px; float:center;]Hughes had been a lot more shut off. He was usually out and about, making friendly conversation, but his face was growing scarce around camp. He holed himself up in his room, trying to avoid the harsh reality outside. Lately, some other children had begun to take notice of him, picking on him from time to time. It wasn't too bad at first, they were more like silly little remarks, like what best friends would do to each other. He thought he had made a few friends, but he soon realized he'd only victimized himself. He was their oblivious target.
It got a lot worse from there. It seemed they knew all his weak points, taunting him about his parents leaving him and being unwanted, about all of his family hating him. At first he didn't believe them, but after a while, he couldn't justify their leaving anymore. Sam had said it would make sense eventually, but it didn't; he must have been stupid, because he just couldn't figure it out. Or they were right and he was truly unwanted. A burden on the shoulders of his parents.
He shook his head, tears pricking the corners of his eyes, burning. He didn't want to cry anymore, his eyes were still red and puffy. But his nose stung and his throat clenched, his cheeks suddenly wet again as he whimpered, burying his head in his paws. He didn't understand; he didn't know why they said things that were so hurtful, why he seemed to bother everyone, or why he was such a misfortune to his clan-mates.