Dawnlark Plains I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize

She gave her account as they walked along, and he listened intently, eyes moving back and forth from her face to the path ahead, as needed. Naturally, he hadn't heard of Broken Antler Fen, nor Sebastian, so this was all new information to him. What he had heard of, though, was that war, and he was curious to hear her thoughts on the matter.

They stopped in front of the spot she'd pointed out, and Shale gave her a nod, smiling. "It's your den," he murmured. "I'll help you dig, but you should make the first scoop. Brings good luck, I hear." It was Lucy who'd given him that particular bit of advice; she'd been superstitious, that girl. His chest felt tight, suddenly, and he switched his thoughts to the caldera once more.

"The war is over, I've heard," Shale remarked, as he waited for her to start the work. "Are you planning on returning to your brother?"