Moonsong Glacier [m] going toe to toe with an enchantress

Val's name was a bright pop of colour in a sea of drab two- and three-syllable names. Aventus knew precious few wolves which such satisfyingly short names. Tuur might be the only one, he realized, and Val was more interesting already than the basalt boy had been, cowering and biting his tongue as he always had. This one talked and had the good sense to get to his feet, too.

How can wolves just up and leave their families like that? he wondered, pinning Val with cynical eyes. It wasn't even his problem, and he had no business feeling offended on behalf of Val's family. He was projecting his feelings about Avicus and Asperas and Apophis onto this stranger, and had not the common sense to realize it. Rather, he was too strung up on his father's maddened grief to consider that it was normal for wolves to leave, and not so normal for one to stay as he had.

There are Saints about, and Saints target the weak and unsuspecting, so I protect my family by looking out for them. Another little snap of cynicism, the mention of family. As if Aventus was somehow better because he had never left his, and Val was here all alone.