Moonsong Glacier through the fog of an early morn

He knew who she spoke of at once; it was recent enough that they were never far from his mind.

"I do not expect that they will," he replied, smoothing the fur of her cheek with a kiss. "If they do, they will find no welcome in me. I will not chase them away — but neither would I remain if they insisted on returning."

He wondered if this would seem very silly to Sulukinak; pride was not a concept he thought she'd had much experience with.

"And if they do not, I suppose our lives shall carry on as they are," he went on, answering her actual question. "Why?"