it's burning through the bloodline

What did it mean for him? Mordecai did not have a very summarized answer. Only a temporary crossing that would bridge the gap between. "A very complicated decision," he said with a wane smile. Where she was not at all comfortable with the Plateau, he was. But what she had said to him on the eve of the storms that had come through had stuck with him, even if he did not openly converse about it. And even with his response, he realized that it too, was vague, and sought to elaborate.

"We feel differently about things here. She's been wanting to leave for a while, but stays because I... like it here. It's been calm, even in spite of all that's gone on. I originally only planned to stay through the end of winter, but, as we can see it's lasted much longer than that." No doubt much to the pleasure of those who had taken him into their fold. He earned his keep and earned his place, and it wasn't contested as it had been in other times and places.

Still, it was clear that this was a decision he did not take lightly.