Swiftcurrent Creek I'll stay awake 'cause the dark's not taking prisoners tonight

He scented his daughter just before she reached him, and he turned as she spoke, the one word heavy with so much emotion that he couldn't even bring himself to inquire why she was all by herself. She buried her face in his fur, and the tears that followed broke him even more than he already was. He wanted to fix it--was sure he do just about anything to be able to do that for her, but it was impossible, no matter how much he wished for it. Soter and Morena were young enough to be protected from the world, but she was too old for that now; she was beginning to understand too much about how hard things could be, and there was nothing he could do to shield her from it.

So, he did the only thing he could do and lowered his head down to nuzzle her, attempting to comfort her. He wanted to say something, but he couldn't think of anything that sounded right. So, instead, he just offered her his presence and affection, hoping it would be enough to quiet her tears.