The Heartwood she doesn't know she's in love

she had held close to where rannoch had instructed that she and her friend stay.  but time had passed and passed and passed and he had not come back for them.  she was beginning to lose hope.  the women had come across very few strangers during their time in the wilderness, so when seabreeze caught the scent of another on the breeze she turned towards it mechanically, searching with hastened pace.

he smelled like rannoch.

hello, she began, her gaze searching the boy's occupied features, are you alright?