The Heartwood In the Bleak Midwinter

"Who names a kid Runt?" Riko blurted out. It wasn't meant to be offensive in any way, at least not to Runt. If anything, it was offending her parents for naming her that.

As for directions, time for her stupidity to kick in. Others had tried to teach her directions, but things just didn't click. So, Riko just stared blankly at Runt, not that she hadn't been doing that already. The only difference was the slightly dazed expression on her face as well as her mouth opening a little. She could -and would!- figure it out though. This river came from another river. That river ran one direction, and the gorge was in the other direction. That meant that she had to go upstream on this river and the other river to reach the gorge! If not, Riko would still find her way to the gorge.