Ocean's Breath Plateau sky flier

red leaf begged for something that chakliux did not think he had given before. or perhaps — once. 
he was still, pulling back ever so slightly as she caressed him, cried softly up into her face with the sorrowful maple-red eyes which filled him with her fear and pain. 
and he had done this! him! 
"red leaf. i can be kind to you without this. i want that. " his eyes told her that it was in no way her lack of beauty, only his resolve that she be protected even from the skinning-knife of her own emotions.
"it is not me you desire. it is him, and that is right. you are his wife and you — want him beside you, very deeply. you are still a woman. i know you are."
he glanced in the direction akiak had fled, looked back to the caribou woman. "let yourself think what else you might be without him, red leaf." an encouraging curve touched his mouth beneath the worried eyes. "let me find ghelan. i will bring him back to you."