Arrow Lake when thaw is not below us

after his initial outburst and subsequent sullen silence, she hadn't necessarily expected the cascade of words that fell from Mesa's mouth. Tahani sat in the wake, nodding intermittently, her face suffused with soft sadness. when he had finished, she curled her tail around his scrawny haunches, the barest of touches to accompany her words.

i am sorry, Mesa, she murmured, blinking down at him. sorry. . .hard to—to lose loved ones. okay to feel sad, angry. damn, this was difficult! her words of wisdom came much easier in her own tongue, but she didn't know whether he'd be receptive to its use or not.

keep going, Tahani suggested gently. it is what. . .what your father would want.