Ouroboros Spine I'll bring you flowers

Valiant gave his aunt a fond embrace, his heart clenching in uneasiness as he watched her say the rest of her goodbyes. There were traditional words to be said here: Be strong and vigilant. Protect one another. I'll see you on the other side. But they were sending her off alone — mostly alone — and the blessing, he knew, would not take for a single traveler.

He only said, "Be well, black bear," swallowing down on a particular thickness in his throat.

He worried that he would not see her again.