Stavanger Bay ah, just burn it up

;__________;

With his piece shared, he let a slow exhale heave its way free. His shoulders relaxed, a tension he had not realized was lingering there dispersed as the seconds ticked and dread never came to find him--even to an unthinkable admission, had one asked him this time last year when everything glimmered still. But no, Vallkyrie grinned his way, contagiously softening his features too as she tidied up the plan, and just like that, he trusted it as well as anything.

His waters of caution would not see him pass an opportunity for something more than this, and neither would he let her go on alone, or selfishly make her stay any longer for his behalf.. not when it was clear. For some time, he had been well aware of her dwindling attachments, and the ache these lands represented while he was no different. But she had remained enough to let him process this, and press close to the conclusion on his own. Vallkyrie was there to help him with the last push he needed, though and now she offered him more than that--a chance to see more, and to not need to do it alone, appealing to a heart that ached and couldn't stomach festering here by himself.

In the morning they would go. Yeah. he said, steadying better then for his own sake. It was still setting in, the reality of it closer than ever. But the choice did not suffocate him. Instead, he must see the horizons the next dawn could open. Best enjoy this beach for one last night then, he chuffed, alongside a light sway to his tail. May as well leave it on a good note, make the best of it, the Ostrega supposed. He didn't want to concern himself with the details of worry or doubt. Instead, it was to be just another coming day to face head on.

He looked to the shoreline, then a quick glance inland, instinctive towards the pull of where he had come from before he returned to her--focused, but easy about it. Thank you. He couldn't quite say, not right now, but maybe it was there in the subtlest of gestures for it certainly sat heavy on the back of his throat.