Wapun Meadow the smell of home, like sour peaches and linen

He let his breath out slowly. It was settled, then. He had the strong impulse to cut ties with the bear and his past and leave right this second, but it was the thought of Cyril that stopped him. He hadn't decided yet if the man was worth his time or would just be another Val — another promising wolf who would turn his tail the moment things went south — but that didn't matter. He had done well thus far and deserved to know.

I need some time, Aventus said, drawing into himself again and feeling the distance between them widen despite their close proximity. He relished it and loathed himself for it in equal measure. He felt himself unraveling a little more with every errant thought he had about children he did not want. He wondered if his mother or father had ever felt this way.

Astara's skull. He could not leave that for anyone to find. He needed time to do something with that, and then... I will tell the others soon, he decided.