Duskfire Glacier Ommatik

The expression on his face filled her with immediate regret. "I'm sorry," she said quickly, talking over him by accident. She frowned apologetically and let him finish before adding, "That came out wrong."

"Are... you well on this day to discuss important matters, Meerkat?"

"That's a valid question," she said. "I don't think my head's in the greatest place right now. And I've had this awful cold for days. But if you can bear with me, then I would like to talk about this, yes. You asked me to share my feelings more and that's what I'd like to do."

Meerkat did not feel nearly as confident as her words might sound on paper. She felt a little shaky still. Her heart thumped so hard against her ribs, it made her whole frame quake. Her head and chest felt full of gunk, to boot. Somehow, though, she managed a small, shaky smile for him.