Ouroboros Spine shine, shine, shine

After Arrluk had spoken, Valiant was very quiet. He didn't know now why he'd feared any other answer. He saw them just as they were, and it was a beautiful thing. They'd all of them been left behind, and Arrluk felt it just as keenly as Valiant — yet he'd carried on with peace and dignity where Valiant had often felt his own lack.

"Thank you," he said, still very quiet. He looked to Ajei as well. "Thank you both."

For stepping up when they had, young and newly wed as they were. For being beacons of light and hope and comfort to them all. And, yes, for this as well.

"I hope our children will grow together — for many years to come," he told them, a warm smile beginning to grow on his face. A happy one, but a heavy one, too. They had all lost so much... It was still hard to think about moving on without those they loved.

But Arrluk was right. He had found love, and he could not waste it.