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I nodded, pressing my lips together. “I’d like to understand. I know you’re not feeling well, but maybe I can help you out of it.”

A harsh laugh left his chest, making him cough which sounded horrible.

“That doesn’t sound good,” I said quietly, but he waved a hand.

“It’s nothing.”

“Doesn’t seem like nothing to me, Fennec.”

“I don’t need you here to come tell me that I was being an ass toward Papa. You shouldn’t have come.”

I frowned at him, trying not to get angry again.

It wasn’t worth it, and seeing as he was still dealing with his own issues, it was best not to add fuel to the flame.

“You can’t send me away, Fennec. It’s not fair. We tell each other everything, right? Why are you trying to hide this obvious pain you’re carrying around from me?”

He shook his head and turned away, making Sitka whine as she saw him return into the cabin.

Even she wasn’t okay with the way he was acting.

Smart dog.

I let go of her leash, knowing that she wouldn’t run from here. Instead, she followed me to the cabin door and went inside to sit next to Papa’s bed.

“Have you slept in here?” I asked.

Another nod.

He was standing by the cooler, his arms crossed and his head tilted to the side. “I understand if you were shocked when Papa fell, and I’m sorry I reacted the way I did. I shouldn’t have shouted. I can’t imagine how scared I’d be seeing someone I love fall down a cliff and get hurt.”

Fennec frowned at me, but it vanished when a small smile appeared on his lips. “Yeah, I guess I didn’t know how to react. It was hard seeing him slip and fall, and I was helpless,” he said, his voice weak. “I was lucky you were there. Guess I’m not as strong as I think I am.”

“I don’t think that’s it, Fennec. I hadn’t seen him fall, and knowing me, I would’ve been stupid enough to turn away to not see it happen.”

It was wrong to even think I would turn my back to something as horrible as that, but I wasn’t strong enough to watch someone get hurt.

Especially if that someone was a loved one.

To keep the cold out, I closed the door behind me and walked closer to Fennec, stopping in front of him and placing both my hands on his cheeks.

I had gloves on, but I could feel his cold skin through the fabric.

“Please don’t push me away again. I wanna talk. I wanna understand what’s going on, and I want to try and make you see that even if you’re feeling down, there’s always a way out.”

His eyes were on mine, observing me closely as I spoke, then he lifted his hand and grabbed my left one to pull it away from his face and hold it tight in his. “I’m happy you’re back, sweet girl. I couldn’t survive out here on my own,” he whispered.

“Of course you could.”

“Not in the state of mind I am right now, Vespyr.”

Mama was right, but I needed Fennec to prove to me that she was.

And he just did.

“Do you think it would be best to go back to Fairbanks then?” I asked, trying to figure out what a good resolution to solve his issues were.

“Not right now. You just arrived, and I think we need some time alone to clear our problems before I let strangers tell me what’s really wrong with me.”

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