Ghost Lion Crag xxxxv. it's a waste of time

He doubted she would show him any kindness, and he was right. The woman was standoffish; she was loyal to Adrastus and had been for a while now, plus, with the knowledge that they were sharing space - or perhaps one another - Raimo knew he would not get through to her.

How else could Adrastus' scent cling to readily to her body? Raimo was not jealous of the sivullik for that; he did not covet Lote the way he did Kukutux, and was in fact glad that the pale man sought affection from someone other than Raimo's fixation. But all the same, Raimo knew he could not go back there.

Not unless he was willing to challenge Adrastus for his position, and in so doing, ruin his relationship further with the moon-woman.

The panther considered these things while Lote spoke. He kept his ruminations private as he moved, first towards her, then around her, his features dark. He had nothing else to say and as the air crackled with a certain tension, he felt it better that he leave anyway.