--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After a long time, one small hand moved…" description: "\"“After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing...." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/karen-chance-1416_feathers_after-a-long-time-one-small-hand-moved-s_1799333.jpg" --- # After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly… ![“After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing. She didn't ask where he'd gotten them, didn't ask why they mimicked the marks on his shoulder. She didn't ask, just kept running her soft fingers…” quote by Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/karen-chance-1416_feathers_after-a-long-time-one-small-hand-moved-s_1799333.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/karen-chance-1416_feathers_after-a-long-time-one-small-hand-moved-s_1799333.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0d1/karen-chance-1416_feathers_after-a-long-time-one-small-hand-moved-s_1799333.jpg) > ““After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing. She didn't ask where he'd gotten them, didn't ask why they mimicked the marks on his shoulder. She didn't ask, just kept running her soft fingers through the down, along the spines… "How long will they last?" "A few hours," he said hoarsely. He should tell her, he thought, that the feathers weren't just a projection. That for the moment for however long the Irin's essence held out, they were an innate, physical part of him. And that her fingers stroking along the marks felt just like they once had, moving over his scars. He ought to tell her, ought to ask her to stop. It's what a gentleman would do, he knew that. But then he was half demon. And tonight, he thought maybe he'd just go with that. "They're nice," she murmured, pulling one around her. "Yes." One hand tightened in her thick soft hair. "Yes.”” [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A tender moment where a character explores another’s scars, confronting intimacy, vulnerability, and the conflict between empathy and self‑preservation. **In simple terms:** She feels the other's pain through touch. Key Takeaway Balance compassion with self‑care. Themes intimacy vulnerability conflict Mood melancholic intimate Type narrative emotional When to use this quote - comforting a loved one - examining personal limits - navigating complex relationships Key Concepts empathy identity boundary setting Questions to Reflect On - When do you protect your own wounds? - How can you help without being consumed? A Different Perspective Risk of losing self in another’s pain. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Feathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers/) [Feathers Falling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers-falling-2018345/) [Feathers Weren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers-weren-2018344/) [Long time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-time/) [Thought Feathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thought-feathers-2018346/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Tracing Feathers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tracing-feathers-2018347/) ## Related quotes > [“It was slow at first, dead things slowly mouldering away. The flies in the corners, the dried flowers in their clay pots. The stuffed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelsey-ipsen/it-was-slow-at-first-dead-things-slowly-mouldering-away-the-flies-in/) [Kelsey Ipsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelsey-ipsen/) > [“Featherweight by Suzy Kassem One evening, I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny. I revealed to it that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/featherweight-by-suzy-kassem-one-evening-i-sat-by-the-ocean-and/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [...wings—-vast shimmering wings, their reach so great they swept the walls on either side of the alley, each feather like the wind-tugged lick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/wings-vast-shimmering-wings-their-reach-so-great-they-swept-the-walls/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [“Birds, unlike us, lack countenance. But they make us smile when they connecting the sky with their dazzling feathers. They amaze us with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ligori/birds-unlike-us-lack-countenance-but-they-make-us-smile-when-they/) [Susan Ligori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ligori/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [I often say if men were meant to fly we would have been born with either feathers and wings or at the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/i-often-say-if-men-were-meant-to-fly-we-would-have-been-born-with/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/just-erotic-nothing-kinky-it-s-the-difference-between-using-a-feather/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) ## More by Karen Chance > [ I glanced at Radu. "What, exactly is Louis-Cesare's problem?'. \[..\] Suddenly a speculative gleam lit his eyes. It made me nervous. 'He tends to… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-glanced-at-radu-what-exactly-is-louis-cesare-s-problem-suddenly-a/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“He had all the self-preservation instincts of a bug near a shiny windshield.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/he-had-all-the-self-preservation-instincts-of-a-bug-near-a-shiny/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I liked Pritkin loud and bitching, in other words, his normal state. I didn't like it when he got quiet.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-liked-pritkin-loud-and-bitching-in-other-words-his-normal-state-i/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“A courteous war mage. The world really was coming to an end. And then Pritkin ran back around the corner followed by half a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/a-courteous-war-mage-the-world-really-was-coming-to-an-end-and-then/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [..."I ran out of stock around midnight and dropped by a place, got some Chinese." I hoped he meant takeout.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-ran-out-of-stock-around-midnight-and-dropped-by-a-place-got-some/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“When good Americans die, they go to Paris,' the ghost said, after taking a drag on a small cigarette.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/when-good-americans-die-they-go-to-paris-the-ghost-said-after-taking/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [Where. Is. He?" Alphonse repeated, although it sounded more like "Don't make me eat your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/where-is-he-alphonse-repeated-although-it-sounded-more-like-don-t/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“Because the next moment, when I was hauled out from under the bed and up to a pair of so-familiar green eyes, I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/because-the-next-moment-when-i-was-hauled-out-from-under-the-bed-and/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I drank some too-hot coffee and scowled at him, annoyed although I couldn't remember why. The light from the lounge was leaking in, highlighting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-drank-some-too-hot-coffee-and-scowled-at-him-annoyed-although-i/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [They don’t eat that much.” “In comparison to what? Starving marines?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/they-don-t-eat-that-much-in-comparison-to-what-starving-marines/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [“I rotated my eyeball—and, goddamnit, even that hurt—to see the leader of my bodyguards peering at me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-rotated-my-eyeball-and-goddamnit-even-that-hurt-to-see-the-leader/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [I was alive, they were not. Go Me. (Touch the Dark)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/i-was-alive-they-were-not-go-me-touch-the-dark/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [There are things we want, and things we may have… Sanity lies in knowing the difference.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/there-are-things-we-want-and-things-we-may-have-sanity-lies-in/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [You know, I was gutting this loser the other day, and I thought, It’d be more fun fighting that little dhampir. I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/you-know-i-was-gutting-this-loser-the-other-day-and-i-thought-it-d-be/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) > [One day, you will say it to me again. You will be sober. And you will mean it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-chance/one-day-you-will-say-it-to-me-again-you-will-be-sober-and-you-will/) [Karen Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) [Explore all 243 Karen Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-chance/) ## More Feathers quotes > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [Stefan: "Indian with a dot, not a feather.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/stefan-indian-with-a-dot-not-a-feather/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [“Only the chicken-lover will understand me. He will give me a kindly look, maybe mildly desirous. His eyes will tell me: You might look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-irving/only-the-chicken-lover-will-understand-me-he-will-give-me-a-kindly/) [John Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-irving/) > [All she saw, down in the cellar well beneath the stoop, was a light yellow feather with a tip of green. And she had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/all-she-saw-down-in-the-cellar-well-beneath-the-stoop-was-a-light/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [Just erotic. Nothing kinky. It's the difference between using a feather and using a chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/just-erotic-nothing-kinky-it-s-the-difference-between-using-a-feather/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [Now I'm free of him and I'm light as a feather. There's no weight holding me down; I'm ready to spread my wings and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-holmes/now-i-m-free-of-him-and-i-m-light-as-a-feather-there-s-no-weight/) [Larry Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-holmes/) > [I often say if men were meant to fly we would have been born with either feathers and wings or at the very least…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-zakour/i-often-say-if-men-were-meant-to-fly-we-would-have-been-born-with/) [John Zakour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-zakour/) > [The world is not a burden; we make it a burden by our desires. When the desires are removed, the world is as light…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baba-hari-dass/the-world-is-not-a-burden-we-make-it-a-burden-by-our-desires-when-the/) [Baba Hari Dass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baba-hari-dass/) > [I've been doing 'The Bachelor' long enough that I don't really care whose feathers I ruffle and how many waves I cause, because my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-harrison/i-ve-been-doing-the-bachelor-long-enough-that-i-don-t-really-care/) [Chris Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-harrison/) > [“Featherweight by Suzy Kassem One evening, I sat by the ocean and questioned the moon about my destiny. I revealed to it that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-kassem/featherweight-by-suzy-kassem-one-evening-i-sat-by-the-ocean-and/) [Suzy Kassem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-kassem/) > [“Birds, unlike us, lack countenance. But they make us smile when they connecting the sky with their dazzling feathers. They amaze us with how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-ligori/birds-unlike-us-lack-countenance-but-they-make-us-smile-when-they/) [Susan Ligori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-ligori/) > [I have not the particular shining bauble or feather in my cap for crowds to gaze at or kneel to, but I have power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-cromwell/i-have-not-the-particular-shining-bauble-or-feather-in-my-cap-for/) [Oliver Cromwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-cromwell/) > [Our respect for the dead, when they are just dead, is something wonderful, and the way we show it more wonderful still. We show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/our-respect-for-the-dead-when-they-are-just-dead-is-something/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [...wings—-vast shimmering wings, their reach so great they swept the walls on either side of the alley, each feather like the wind-tugged lick of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laini-taylor/wings-vast-shimmering-wings-their-reach-so-great-they-swept-the-walls/) [Laini Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laini-taylor/) > [Erotica is using a feather; pornograpy is using the whole chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/erotica-is-using-a-feather-pornograpy-is-using-the-whole-chicken/) [Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/) [Browse all 605 Feathers quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feathers/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“After a long time, one small hand moved, slowly, tentatively, tracing the feathers falling around her, stroking the black slashes along one huge wing. She didn't ask where he'd gotten them, didn't ask why they mimicked the marks on his shoulder. She didn't ask, just kept running her soft fingers through the down, along the spines… \"How long will they last?\" \"A few hours,\" he said hoarsely. He should tell her, he thought, that the feathers weren't just a projection. That for the moment for however long the Irin's essence held out, they were an innate, physical part of him. And that her fingers stroking along the marks felt just like they once had, moving over his scars. He ought to tell her, ought to ask her to stop. It's what a gentleman would do, he knew that. But then he was half demon. 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