Moonsong Glacier mistmantle

He felt guilt and failure when she felt the need to comfort him, but he let the words warm him, anyway.

"You are right," he quietly agreed, summoning up a smile for the girl. "In the end, all will be warm and safe in one place or another. I wish only that we could skip ahead to that part."

He almost let her go, but called again and caught up to say —

"If she does not want to send anyone to the glacier," he said, wavering for just a moment before going on: "I will do as she best wishes, Chickadee. I will fight for the village if she asks for this. There is no ultimatum. Only a request."