Whitebark Stream It's deciding where to die and deciding where to fight

He was prepared to do whatever Artyom asked of him and excepted some kind of task to prove his loyalty and that he was grateful for the second chance he was being offered. And he was grateful, more than he could ever express. What was asked of him, though, took him by surprise, and it showed in the delay between when Artyom turned to head from the borders and when Kavik began to follow him. Forgive himself? That seemed like an impossible task, not to mention he didn't really feel like he deserved to forgive himself. Maybe if Grezig ever could, then he could try and figure out a way to do the same for himself. But right now? Kavik felt that he deserved to suffer for breaking his promise and abandoning Grezig while she was pregnant. Again, the leader was too generous by not asking Kavik to explain himself, and again, he was grateful. He wasn't sure he could talk about it again right now. Eventually, he might open up about it, but today he was too raw and exhausted.

He finally took a slow step forward, and then a second and a third, eventually trotting up to walk at Artyom's side. He listened to the advice he offered and wondered if it would save him the next time he broke under the pressure of his own mind. He greatly feared it would happen again, and he just hoped he would be able to remind himself of the wolves in his life that counted on him. 

Thank you, Artyom, he finally said. He vowed that he would find some way to thank him with more than just words.