Blackfeather Woods us and them

Kove was not near when the girl’s tones travelled through the woods, but the song found him all the same.

It was familiar, the voice, though he was unable to place it immediately—but the moment it hit him, he was off.

The northerner wasted as little time as he possibly could, long legs propelling him through the woods with a sort of newfound youthfulness. He did not stop nor even slow until she was within his line of sight—until they all were within his line of sight. From one face to the next his gaze jumped, nose picking through the scents to separate his from theirs, before his eyes found the marred expression that was his former apprentice; she looked different now, older, and also terribly scarred. Frowning, he refrained from closing the space between them entirely, going just far enough to stand ahead of the others, beside his Listener.

“You found your way home,” he stated. “But you’re not alone?” Again, he glanced at those accompanying her, silently questioning their intentions. Were they merely escorting the youth, or had they formed a bond and intended to remain with her? Was Maegi even to stay? Although he had questions to ask, he did not voice them, allowing her to speak first before the risk of overwhelming her was taken.