Northstar Vale salute your solution

When she was near enough that he could make out her individual features — strong, sturdy, stern — she stopped, and he took a few more steps until they were in an appropriate range for conversation. When she didn't speak, however, he felt the creep of ill-ease tremble at the base of his spine and climb up. Inwardly uneasy, Whim stood in silence, but after a moment of it, he relaxed. He was rubbish at speaking, and here he was given a reprieve. He stood up a bit straighter and regarded her straight-on, tilting his head slightly to the side, though he didn't bother to ask who she was or what she wanted.