Dawnlark Plains this train is bound for glory

Grayday was tired. When he wasn't hunting, he was digging. When he wasn't digging, he was walking the borders, marking and mapping them out. Easy had become his constant companion, eager to learn the ropes of being an Adult. Now that he'd introduced her to the concept, she couldn't seem to get enough. She took lessons from Pema and the others as well, of course, but she seemed most interested in what he was up to.

The father suspected his wife had something to do with this. Had Catori asked Easy to keep an eye on him? It was sweet of her if she had. Sweet of both of them. Either way, he didn't mind the company, and he didn't begrudge Catori any worries she might have for him. He'd been bitten by a snake when he still had his vision, after all, and he had not yet proved adept at navigating this new land.

"Night, Dad," said Easy, leaving him near the edge of the Maplewood that evening.

"Where are you going?" he asked, realizing that his daughter did not mean to stay.

"Just out for a bit. I'll be back before morning."

"Hmm," said Grayday, but he didn't stop her when she went on her way, instead trotting into the trees to find his wife. Until the den was done, they were sleeping near the cover of the woods. It wouldn't do to be caught in the open by the Last Shadow, after all. "Cat?" he called out when he caught her scent, not wanting to have to sniff her out in the darkness.