Ouroboros Spine Twinkle twinkle, little star

The isbjørn blushed under his fur, though he remained outwardly stoic. He had no answer for her thanks and, in fact, did his best to ignore both that and all other reaction she had to the feather. Secretly, however, he was pleased.

"There's plenty in the woods up here," he replied, as though they were having a normal conversation. He felt stuck, though, looking back at her. She had her daughter's eyes, but Valiant could not help but think the effect was wildly different. He couldn't look away, even knowing that he ought to.

This, he thought to himself, is why I look from a distance.

But she sat very close to him, now.

"Here," he said, ducking his head to take the feather up again. He leaned forward and tucked it into the fur behind her ear.