Firestone Hot Springs Memories Fade

He shook his head at her, not wanting her to feel survivor's guilt just because all her children had lived through their first weeks. He knew she meant to make him feel better, though the news that Casmir had been born sickly did not exactly make Peregrine feel very good. He didn't know what to say so that. He was sad that the boy had been less than healthy, yet he was fine now, whereas little "Derp's" loss was very fresh and very final.

"Thanks for the condolences. It's hard, though not unexpected. I mourn the loss of potential more than anything, since he was so young," Peregrine admitted, reflecting on how he'd expected to be much more crushed. But "Derp" had been young enough that his loss was not as devastating as he'd expected. Still, he didn't like dwelling on it.

"Let's talk about something happier," he said lightly, eyes moving to Blue Willow's, hoping she would come up with something.