The following days Shadow made sure to be nearby whenever Maria was doing her daily chores. Staying so close to her on the walks he was almost leaning against her. Maria chuckled lightly a few times and would give him a reassuring pat on the shoulder now and then trying to help him relax some.
Today she was working on fetching water to refill the water barrel in the cabin. They had done a couple runs already this day and Maria lightly clenched her fingers around the bucket's handle as they walked. They were nearly half way back when both were startled by the sound of the bucket of water hitting the ground and spilling out its contents.
Shadow looked down puzzled as Maria quickly kneeled down to pick it back up, waving it off to Shadow that it was nothing and she simply hadn't been playing attention.