Hoshor Plains of a chain reaction of countermoves

Valiant's head tipped a fraction, bewildered. He hadn't considered this asking for advice so much as insight. She had been open to sharing her spiritually even on painful topics when they'd met. He remembered being uncomfortable when the death of her sister had come up.

He stood with a little sigh. "I'll let you get back to it, then," he said in polite farewell, choosing not to address the topic of parenthood — something he still thought of mainly in abstract. Family seemed so distant a dream to him even now.

The isbjørn turned to go, and then hesitated a moment longer.

"Your beliefs have value, regardless of whether they conform to others'," he said — but he felt he'd embarrassed himself enough for one day after that and quickly left the area.