Hoshor Plains I will always heed your call

The isbjørn's ears splayed when he realized he'd made her invite him again, as if the first time hadn't been good enough for him. But she didn't seem upset and so he tried not to be, either. A sheepish smile ghosted across his muzzle, which he dipped once toward his chest in silent assent.

They were quiet as they walked, then. The moonlight felt warmer now, like rays of the sun. He walked Kukutux to the edge of the next camp, where he guessed she must have business that had nothing to do with him.

"Thank you, ma'am," he said, because neither of us could remember whether he'd said it already, and I am typing in the car so it's hard to scroll back. "Be well — I'll be around. And I'll see you on the spine when Arjun gets home."