Otter Creek south

"It takes two moons from the coupling."

Coupling. That was so vague. Bazi wanted to ask more, but didn't know how to phrase the question so as not to seem utterly naive. Fox said no more on the subject of an additional trade, and the outrider took that for approval. Approval was very important to her. Shar-Kali had always approved of Bazi, more than Mari and infinitely more than her unruly namesake. Having a rank and a job in Swiftcurrent Creek made her feel secure, and praise from Fox was reminiscent of her mother's - it lacked that awful, gushy insincerity, and was infrequent enough to be special. She needed that now, whilst she unfurled and grew and hardened. Beyond that - who knew?

"I can't see anything," she said, gaze filtering back to the horizon. "I'll wait it out another night, in case they're just beyond the horizon. Jace and Ferdie are both stationed at home, so the Creek is safe." Obviously Fox knew that, otherwise she wouldn't have left. A short spell of silence followed whilst Bazi gathered courage to return to their original conversation. "..and what about you?" she ventured, "Any particular plans for next year?"