so hold me

As Roan began to speak, Iolaire felt that maybe her question was a mistake. The pain in his voice was evident and, because he felt pain, she felt pain. She scooted closer to him, letting him know that she was there. As he spoke of Dapple, their childhood and their life together, Iolaire got a sense of who he was. It seemed that family was important to him. Again, she was upset that she couldn't give him one. Her body just wasn't capable.

Then he began to blame himself again and Iolaire gently shushed him as the pain began to well over in the man. "No, no. You didn't fail her." Wrapping one foreleg around Roan's thick neck, Io sat on her haunches and pulled his head against her chest. "Fighting bears is always a game of chance. Things just didn't fall in your favor this time." She kissed his face and held him close. "You'll honor her memory when you take that bear down." She gave him a light squeeze. "Take my mother with you. Those scars on her shoulder? It won't be her first brush with a bear."

Settling back, but still sitting on her rear with her forelegs gently rested on him, she spoke. "Thank you for telling me about her. She sounds like a wonderful sister." Iolaire was sad that she would never meet the woman, but was also thankful that events had brought her together with Roan.