Stone Circle Exitlude

Fig stayed close to Tauris and their children as she spoke, his heart heavy. He had not known Gunnar well, but he had liked him well nonetheless. Other spoke after Tauris, but he held his tongue. He was not one for speaking in front of crowds, and it felt somehow too impersonal for him to do so now anyway. His words of comfort were saved for private conversations, for any who sought them.

Absently, he reached to brush his nose against Katla's and then Swift's heads in turn. A thought penetrated his mind that haunted him—that one day, it would be him leaving them. He prayed it would not be soon. It would be a day far, far in the future, when he had taught them everything and prepared them so well that they would not need him anymore.

His eyes moved across Gunnar's children. So young to be without a father. He held his own children a little tighter, as he would hold Tauris as close as he could later when they were alone. Like he might never get the chance again, for who knew really if he would?