Hushed Willows you open always petal by petal

After his tumultous return, Valiant had requested solitude that he did not want, and had retreated to the rose grove — only to find it already occupied.

The woman was unfamiliar to him, but this place was not. Part of him rankled to have her here on this earth, where only wolves of Elysium should be allowed — but it had not been that way in the time of the allmothers, and he supposed they would not want it that way, now.

"Um. Hey," he said in a rather hoarse voice, trying not to feel irritated at having disturbed her in apparent prayer, and at having to make conversation when he, himself, would rather pray.