The feeling of being alone. It was different from solitude. She was dragged back to the Academy, for a moment. Years of being surrounded by scientists. Politicians. Other students. And constantly just being lost in her own head. Knowing that none of them were real people to her. Just images of what they needed to be while she wasn't allowed to contact anyone who did care about her. That had been loneliness. Something past that even, something that was more raw than a named emotion. Something that River no longer tried to put words to now that she didn't have to experience it.
"End up with people who make you feel alone," River echoed faintly, fingers sliding down the glass a little. "But your brother is here." River pressed, looking directly at Sam this time.
She immediately cast her attention back to the otters when Sam spoke about them. There was certainly something easier about them than people -- like the cows. More freedom. She laughed as one of the otters went swimming by on its back, its feet causing frenzied motions of water, a small blue ball balanced in between its front arms.