Redhawk Caldera … so it goes

For @Eljay! Thanks for your patience.

Sylvie still hadn’t adjusted to living in the caldera. Although she had grown familiar of the territory, she felt as though the looming mountain was cold and imposing. It was a stark difference between the warmth and familiarity she felt while growing up in the fen.

Her range didn’t extend far from where her family had moved, and she very rarely interacted with anybody outside of her immediate family. The thought of meeting somebody new made her nervous, and with all of her mental turmoil, she avoided that discomfort entirely.

The season was beginning to change, and the weather grew warmer. Sylvie had noticed a distinct smell in the air—one of pollen, growth, and promise of pleasant weather. It comforted her somewhat, but not enough for her to expand her horizons.

Currently, she was enjoying lunch. Food comforted her in ways that nothing else could; it was one of the few constants in her life. As usual, she took more than she needed. She had quickly downed a carrion, and had moved onto cleaning the meat off a mouse’s bones.

Hymnal was excited about being a big sister, and Eljay was pretty sure that Sylvie would be, too. As he caught her eating, Eljay smiled; he'd experienced some rough times himself where he stopped eating very much, so he was happy to see that at least Sylvie was taking care of herself. It wasn't hard for him to tell that she hadn't exactly found her swing yet in Redhawk Caldera. Change was tough; Eljay knew it only too well. He had been the same when he was young, and he'd hated leaving the Caldera every single time.

Hey sweetie, Eljay said with a soft smile as he approached. What're you eating? Is it nice? He knew that Sylvie loved food, so it seemed like a natural way to start a conversation.