He stops to think about his response for a long, long moment, expression unmoving. "My friend, I fear this is something greater than I would wish to foist upon you. More than you could imagine. It's just..."

The story is long, and the time needed to process it even longer. It isn't a discussion he wants to have here and now. The fluffy creatures seem to notice his shift in mood and start nuzzling up against him.

"There will be a time and place when I can talk about it. But not now. I'm afraid we just don't have the time."