take off the training wheels

Noah

if there's a reason I'm still alive
when so many have died

Eira became aware of the presence of another before Noah did. It was like a spark in his head at her realization, a little flicker of blue light that he knew, now, to be totally and completely her. His soul still beamed, swollen with pride and love for the small creature nestled in his jacket. She popped her head out and chirped toward Henry, a friendly and bright and infant-like chirp. His name reverberated across the bond and Noah looked up, glacier eyes catching the bird. He smirked some, happy to have another aerial view. He had gotten used to having it, with Korbin at his side for so many years.

When the man lands, and shifts, however, Noah notices that something is instantly different. Dark circles and weary eyes were not what he expected to see on Henry's face, and not what he remembered. His smirk turned to a frown as the man apologized for the state of things--of himself, of his home, of their hunt. Noah shook his head some, and reached out to grasp Henry's shoulder in a sign of encouragement. "I am sorry that Longnight was so hard here." He wanted to say more about it, but he was not sure his condolences would really mean much to a man who was used to the suffering of the sunless season. "I took some time to scout a little bit, and I found some evidence turkeys." At least, that's what he thought they were, and the tracks matched almost entirely the tracks from the book he had read.

then I'm willing to
wait for it