Sunbeam Lair you reduce my name to a signal fire

She objects her need for rest and Ukko doesn’t press the matters anymore than he has so far. Nor does she close the rest of the distance between them but Ukko can’t expect those kinds of things from her. They may be mated, but their affection doesn’t live much beyond that. He often remains by her side, the first few days he’s been here, and he doesn’t mind it too much.

“I don’t know,” he says, “it’s nice.”

It’s not the maplewood. 

Ukko bites back the thought as he closes the space between them, touching her shoulder gently. 

“I can’t imagine they feel happy I’m here,” he says then with his own worry. If someone had brought home another and shoved into leadership without getting to know the rest, Ukko can’t say he’d be too fond of the idea either.