Axel's not an especially tactile person, either--he has no idea what to do with hugs, for starters, and in general while he likes being around others, proximity is a pretty touchy subject for him. But there are times when contact can do more for someone than any words, and he hopes that that might be the case for the moment.

He doesn't want to say that there's more than one way a world can end. He already lost his home once, and it had nothing to do with this Storm at all, but he doesn't think Ren would take any comfort in this knowledge.

"I know how that goes," he says, but won't elaborate unless Ren asks. "What's grim? I mean... I know what the word means, but I've never heard of an army of it. Them. Whatever."