Blackfeather Woods So what do you want from me

That which plagued her mind resonated within him, for he could recall several times during which he felt the same; that he was not meant to be here, that he was meant to return to the north. And, at times, he’d even listened to those nagging thoughts and seriously contemplated returning to TakKik Kunnâk—but he never had, he’d always remained there in the woods despite everything. “Do you want to leave?” he had to ask, turning his body towards her. “You wouldn’t be the first to think about it.” Or to do it, for that matter.

“This isn’t the north,” he noted. “Maybe neither of us are meant to be here, but that doesn’t mean either of us has to leave.” At this point, he wondered if he could, if he would be able to make such a great journey, even if he really wanted to. “If you have to leave, I understand,” he continued. “But I’d rather you didn’t.” It was a selfish request, he realised, but he didn’t feel terrible for making it. She was his only connection to the north, to his heritage, so he couldn’t not ask her to stay.