Lost Creek Hollow Joining

So, perhaps she had some skill that qualified her to be something of a healer. He considered the possibility that perhaps she would learn more, assuming that Ilya would heal and continue to learn herself, and that Harlyn was willing to teach. Still, he could not help but nod to her words as they moved along, knowing that it was good that she could hunt, and of course that she could defend.

"We need defenders," he told her, "there's been a cougar lurking about. Big cat, mean," he added on, the latter of sentences an afterthought to simplify things. He imagined she could fill in the blanks from there, as his tone carried a certain feeling to it — the cougar had been the reason for his scarring. Though they were long healed, there was still a certain newness to them that would eventually fade away. His steps slowed to a natural stop.

"Can you... handle that?"