Fendros closed his eyes for a while to think. His head ached from the shouting just moments ago, but he could see progress.

"I won't ask you to forgive those kinds of people, Ahna," Fendros said, before opening his eyes again. "You can feel anger if you want, you can desire revenge, you can want this war to end. None of that is inherently wrong." Fendros finally closed his hand over Ahnasha's. "I just don't want to cause cruelty to those who had no choice in the matter. I don't want to kill or hurt families, I don't want to make children suffer, and I don't want to justify any of that by saying that it'll somehow suddenly end the war or help us live in peace."

Fendros brought up his other hand to hold Ahnasha's as well. "I don't expect the enemy to give us the same mercy. I know I shouldn't. But I know that if they were willing to spare my family if they caught me, I would take it. If that was done, if they lived, I might doubt that they are as horrible as the others we've fought." He looked down at their hands again. "I know I must be sounding like some blubbering fool who doesn't know what he is talking about. I just want us to stick to some boundaries from now on, okay?"

He squeezed her hand. "In killing every single person who wishes lycans dead, would you be willing to spare their families if you had the choice? Can we choose to do that from now on?"

[hr]
"Ahnasha was holding a dagger," Sabine said without thinking. She breathed in quickly twice. "...I do not know what happened. It could have been an accident," she conceded. "They were so indifferent about it." Sabine pulled back with one arm and wiped her eyes. "I...I should ask them. I got scared."