The Sentinels that you would be shaking right down to your soul

they had reached an impasse of sorts -- lasher was silent and caiaphas smouldered alongside him. he wondered why she took so much care with his well-being -- while they were quite close, taltos did not know what she had invested in him emotionally, and perhaps would never know -- the saltwitch was a closeted and shadowed beast. and yet he was touched by her obvious worry for him; presently, a smile tugged slowly at the edges of his mouth and he turned to her again.

"it is soothing that you think so highly of me," he murmured gently. "i would have worried had you intended to go alone yourself." he was a hypocrite, yes, but not one that could admit his fault, and he warmed to their interlude as they continued to move through the land, though he did not see the spring colour that had come to lie upon the ground in place of the receding snow.