He struggles with his vocabulary for a moment.
"Most ways I can think of to say it, it sounds really bad, but it wasn't at all," he says. "It was like you were... everywhere. Like if there's something a hug wants to be when it grows up, it's that."
"Awww," she sighs.
"What about... other times? What's the range here?" she asks. "If you don't mind."
A pause. Petaal snuggles Path some more.
"Other times... it is really bad," he says. "Really, really bad. Because it's nice having somebody so close when it's someone you like, but when it's someone you don't... and you're scared and angry and can't get away... then it's the worst thing in the world."
Isabella shivers. So does Path; he hunkers down in Petaal's embrace.
Petaal leans her cheek against the softness of Path's feathers and hugs him gently.
Well. Hair-petting got good results before and is compatible with hugs, yes?
Pause.
"I wonder if Petaal can fly. On cloud-pine, I mean."
"Well, mine won't work for you - I can take a passenger, but only I can fly the thing. You have to cut your own," Isabella says. "It's a bit of a hike from here."
"Sure. Closest stand of them is in Nunavut. I think the location's common knowledge. I don't think I can get the time off to fly you guys there myself, though."
"Auyuittuq National Park is the part it'll be easier for you to get to. I'm not sure the Nunavut Clan will think much of your visit if you try to go to the part of the tree cluster that they control."