Moonsong Glacier crystophora

"No," said the panther, amused by the thought. There was a boorish part of him that even liked the idea of it, but he could not imagine spreading himself so thin. He felt strained as it was, without any wives of his own to contend with. "Nephele wants children more than a husband," he told Sulukinak, wondering if she would see the parallel that he did. Perhaps they would find some common ground. "She will seek a man to lay with her when she comes into her season, but I doubt she will marry him."

He wasn't sure if Sulukinak had met the next woman, but, "Eira, I have turned toward Fallen Sun. He would like a wife, and she would like to be one. I have hope that they will find happiness in each other."

And him?

"There is a woman called Tulugak," he said, watching Sulukinak's face to see if the name was familiar to her. "She was here for a time, and then she was called back to her homeland. But she is on her way back."

A beat of silence, and then,

"I think I will ask if she will marry me."