Porcupine Ridge Things I almost remember

@Sparrow

She helped him settle in that night.

"There are lots of places to sleep." Slow steps, hoping the boy could move despite his leg, and never asking how it happened, but staying close to his ashen side. A gentle voice between the jutting stones that carved his way to arrive.

In the ocean of bladed mountains, soft open meadows of grass and clovers ran amok between more scarce protruding stones. Trees took home in more stable dirt.

Hex had done the same for her.

"That's where I sleep," she nosed towards a tree with a hollowed out space. "But you can choose wherever you want!

a sour expression stretched it's self wide across his maw as he hobbled after the girl with unsteady steps. the pain was manageable without any weight upon his paw, but walking even a short distance brought about a sharp sting to his leg. 

the girl was more patient than he would ever be, her steps matching the pace of his own. were the positions reversed, he would have tormented her for taking so long to move or would have left her behind altogether. she was kind, and he judged her for it. 

she pointed him toward where she slept, and he offered no more than a blink in acknowledgment. "here is fine," he announced as he slumped to the ground where they currently stood, tired of the pain and discomfort that crept it's way through his leg.

As if the pain grew too great, it seemed the boy could not take it any more. As if the aches were too strong, they plastered on his face. He could not handle moving any longer, and Nutuyikruk stood there, frozen. Unsure again of what to do, and stuck to the very ground where they'd stopped in unison. Still again.

Sparrow was done walking, and no longer cared, if ever at all, where his bed would be. Not tonight.

"Oh."

Crickets hopped at their feet.

"Well," her voice skipped, "--Well, okay. Right here, then." She nodded until she convinced herself that he was okay.

he desperately wished to hear her tease him, to criticize him and then hoist him back to his feet and continue on shoulder-to-shoulder as his sisters might have done. but she gives him no such comfort, falling to the softhearted nature she had displayed so far.

what a twerp!

he splayed himself outward along his side, his tummy plump with the food he had devoured. "there be other kids here?" he wondered aloud, curious to how many children that woman had stolen away.

Sticks were cleared away from around the boys body through her teeth. Stray pebbles, moved afar; old, slimy leaves, dug back so that they would not be so disturbing. It would work for the night, or perhaps until he moved away from the ridge. 

Nutuyikruk's head came to a slow shake. "I don't think so. Why--, I haven't been here very long." Melancholic, but trying to make him as comfortable as he could be. Perhaps he'd stay a little longer if he was, and the ridge would not feel so bad. If nothing else, would not feel as cold as the first night. 

She wished it upon no one. Not even a rude boy.

Her head lifted just a bit, then curious. "Where do you come from?"