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Roar’s eyes blazed with intensity, but he said nothing

"I don’t bla like I do, because I don’t"

"When I showed up at the cave, you couldn’t even stand to look at me"

"That’s in your head"

"It’s not You’re hardly subtle" Roar waved a hand "About anything"

"You vain bastard I wasn’t avoiding you You just sulk whenever you’re not the center of attention"

Roar lifted his shoulders "Maybe that’s true, but you were acting like Liv never existed I was on my own"

"Which was a disaster You’reback in the Ko you’ve ever done Without question"

Roar sh burbled out of hiained h icked and high-pitched, rese the cackle of a wild turkey It was one of the funniest sounds Perry had ever heard; he was powerless against it Soon they were both howling, standing in the middle of a place that was, and wasn’t, home

By the time they settled down and took the trail back to the cave, Perry’s ribs ached

"Why e laughing?"

Roar gestured to the south, where Aether funnels scored down to the earth "Because of that Because the world is ending"

"That shouldn’t be funny"

Apparently it was, because it got theain

Perry had no idea if he’d expressed half of what he’d intended He knew he’d been selfish, leaving Roar to deal with Liv’s death alone He hadn’t let hione, so he’d failed his friend, and hi--Roar was right about that--but nothing ever kept him down

As they walked back to the cave, a piece of hi looked the sa, but he and Roar would walk to that end side by side

When they arrived, they found the one to sleep Perry left Roar and headed for his tent, half-asleep himself

Reef and Marron intercepted him on the way

"A feords?" Reef said

"Sure," Perry said "A few" He was so tired; every time he blinked he felt like he dreamed

"Did you and Roar talk?" Marron asked

Perry nodded "Just did"

Marron sant," said Reef

"But he’s good for Perry, Reef," Marron said

Reef grunted--as enthusiastic as he’d ever sounded about Roar

Marron reached into a satchel "I forgot to give this back to you earlier" He re it over

"Thank you," Perry said, pulling it on The weight of the metal around his neck was more familiar than comfortable He wondered if it would ever be both

Marron and Reef exchanged a look, and then Reef drew a noisy breath, pushing back his braids "You brought us both into the Tides, Perry Neither one of us would be here if you hadn’t let us into your tribe"

"That’s right," Marron said "You offered us shelter e needed it most When you couldn’t afford to, you helped us"

Perry had never felt like he’d done either of them a favor It had always felt the other way around

"Between roup from Delphi and Reef’s Six, we’re fifty-three people," said Marron "Fifty-three who’ll willingly stay behind We won’t take the place of your tribe on those Hovers"

Reef nodded "There’s no way forward that isn’t through pain and hardship, Peregrine You must see that It’s your task as Blood Lord to do what’s best for the whole--for as many of your tribe as you can help--not what’s easiest"

"We’d like you to just consider e’re saying," Marron said "That’s all we ask"

Perry pretended to think for a few seconds "It’s a noble offerDid either of you think I’d accept it?"

Reef and Marron exchanged a look, the answer plain on their faces

Perry grinned "Well, you were right" Clapping theht

In his tent, Perry found Cinder asleep next to Talon Flea was rolled into a ball under Cinder’s arm

Perry knelt and scratched his coarse fur The dog angled his head up, his tail padding against the blankets He loved to be scratched in the soft slope between his wide-set eyes

Perry’s gaze ether like they’d known each other since birth He owed that to Willow

"And you too, fleabag," he said

Cinder’s eyes blinked open Perry s hi to Flea

Lying on his side, Cinder gave a one-shouldered shrug "I didn’t do anything He just came back with me"