Big Salmon Lake cutback

His own eyes were troubled, then. His desire to fix whatever was wrong increased tenfold, but for a moment, he was very quiet beside her, waiting to see if she would say more. He almost forgot to be wary of her nearness, and when he remembered, he stiffened for all of a moment before all propriety was swept away. There were things more important than the impression of virtue.

"I am here," he said, sidling closer so that their fur might mingle; so that he might be a ballast or a blanket as called for. "Will you tell me about it?" he asked her, unsure if this was the right thing to say.