Whitebark Stream It's me defending in suspense

brave. in his more cocky moments, he believed that wholeheartedly. how cool he was, striking out on his own! but he didn't feel so brave on the loneliest of nights, and surya wondered whether kavik knew that same yawning emptiness. no one to talk to, no one to trust in.

i do, he admitted, then wrinkled his nose and added in impulse, but i'm still angry with her. stubborn boy. he left it at that; if the man pressed further, he would not go on. he would never forgive his mother for not telling him the truth straight out.

instead, he leaned into kavik's own story, smiling as he followed the man's gaze toward the den. oh, those are your children, surya said warmly. well, obviously—why else would the guy be sulking near here? it wasn't all that comfortable, after all. what was making him so sad? he had his family, he had a home. . .what was wrong?

not longer than a moon, he replied. it seemed much longer. time seemed to drag on in the cold season.