Moonsong Glacier crush

The panther's head tilted just a fraction to the side. He was ignorant for a moment longer, and then he was only confused.

Him?

Not only him, he was sure. Sialuk had a husband and a wife back at Moonspear. Was it tradition of some kind that brought her to the glacier? He felt wrong-footed, and reluctant to do something that might sour relations between the two tribes. But his own heart, he decided, could not be sacrificed for these things.

"I am honored by your consideration," he said, haltingly. "But I want to be where my children are — and Moonspear is too far for my heart."

Moonspear was too far, and Sialuk was too unknown. She had his admiration almost by default, but he did not know how she would treat his children. They would be raised well, surely, but he did not know her heart the same way he knew Chakliux's.