Moonsong Glacier Lost in the Shadows

It still weighed on him, but the panther nodded along to these words. Alaric was right, and even if he wasn't — Dutch knew where his loyalties lay, and he knew what lines he was willing to cross or see crossed.

With a quiet breath, he let the matter go altogether. All he said was,

"I will pray for strength and healing for your mountain children."

He was not too sullen to smile along when Alaric laughed. His tail wheeled to hear that Alaric valued his friendship as well. They hadn't known each other long, but the chief felt a kinship with the man that he would carefully guard.

"Let's put this away," he said, gesturing to the poison. "I have a place where no one else will come across it. I would feed you afterward, if you have time to spare. And something like news, if you care to hear it."

Gossip was what he really meant.