Ouroboros Spine way of the wind

It was no secret that Valiant was concerned. Not just about this, but about life in general. He was a thinker and a planner and, most of all, a worrier. And he was worried about Ipiktok, even or especially having gone on a similar journey at a similar age.

"In my family, we bless our travelers, Be strong and vigilant. Protect one another. Know that I love you so," he said to the boy, with whom he'd never gotten as close as he'd hoped. Even so, he felt a deep love for his stepson, rivaled only slightly (and with extreme guilt) by the visceral adoration he felt for his triplet daughters. He was thinking of them even now, and of his wife, and of moonwoman and Aiolos and Galana.

"We say this because we never send them alone," he said with one of his wry, weary smiles. "Things are different here, and I know you gotta do this by yourself. But just remember that wolves need each other. And if you find yourself someplace needin' help, there's no shame in that. So I'll say, protect yourself — protect yourself like you'd protect your brother, and like he'd protect you. And I'll say that we love you. I love you. And you're takin' someone precious with you. Someone we'll be wishing for, no matter what happens."

He touched his nose lightly to the boy's forehead, as was also tradition in his family. And then, quietly, he told Ipiktok where he might find wolves of the Morningside line in Round Valley, if he found himself in that direction in need of help or company.

And he smiled, calm and benign as Ipiktok departed from him — but inside, he could already feel dread welling up in the pit of his stomach.