Redsand Canyon Accepting change is quite as important as defending the past

Tactics. He could only assume she meant battle tactics. War. The thought was still invigorating, even after all this time. It brought a slight smile to his face as he answered. I was, once. Like most young boys. But I haven't thought about it in a long time; I had to put those dreams aside as I found more responsibility elsewhere, The smile dissipated as he spoke, like smoke curling and fading into the air.
I guess that's a long way of saying yes, Another flash of a smile, bittersweet this time and gone far more quickly. As for why I didn't stay with my sister — it's a long story. The short version is that my family has seen a lot of tragedy over the years. Lots of death. His heart hurt, so much that he had to pause and swallow back the sudden lump in his throat.
I guided our pack; made decisions for everyone when I had to; kept them safe. Until I couldn't anymore, and then the shame of that brought me even lower. I decided I should take a break, and my siblings agreed, so I hit the road. Finding Maia and her family was a happy coincidence — but settling down with them would feel like a betrayal, He hadn't told anyone this story in full, not even Maia. But he didn't really have to, did he? She understood, he felt. It would be nice to have a purpose again, but I can't betray my duty to the family I left by settling down without them.