Stone Circle Inchoate

Her brow pinched at the first words from his mouth, a statement that seemed as redundant as the trees in the Pando Clone Forest. His point was lost on her. Of course it was cold. It was winter.

But his intention sparked curiosity. Recruits were frequent these days - perhaps due to the severity of the season - but his supposed knowledge of Easthollow was different. She had never met a stranger who hadn’t stumbled upon them by accident, yet this man had come with foreknowledge.

She narrowed her eyes. The question of how touched the tip of the Apaata’s tongue, but the familiar presence of Desna stole her attention away. Nanook lost her words to the distraction, and the surprise made her stagger, bit she  returned a lick to her sister’s chin before turning back to the dark and mysterious man.

“I would like to know as well,” she said, finding her voice again, “and what you know of us.” Her copper eyes raked him again, analyzing and assessing. He appeared a strong and respectable fellow - but she didn’t give the benefit of a doubt so blindly.