Shadewood To Spite it All, Despite it All.

A gentle nuzzle from the side of his maw to the round of her head, appreciation for her humility in these troubling times. Immediately he regretted not finding her sooner, inquiring of her mental state. She probably needed companionship; this place grew desolate as he noticed they had been gone as well.

“Kai will be back.” His resolution firm on the matter. She was dedicated, loyal; should she be fine and alive and well, she would come back to the solace of the woods. Something deeper than simply friendship had bloomed between the two loners. He saw her as a daughter, the Sea-Found. But there was something else that glimmered secretly in those mysterious glass eyes of the naiad- he just never had enough time to find out what it was before she had disappeared.

Returning to subject at hand here, he listened to the second half of her report, everything of his mind focused on her tale. “Be careful, Phex”, he warned. “I’ve seen others around these parts and we can’t be certain of who will be plotting against us so soon. Don’t give up anything other than what’s mandatory for recruitment.” 

Cry knew how charismatic Phex was, but her youth would be what shattered the filter of what was meant to be said, and what wasnt. Cry couldn’t take any more risks. He even had to have a side search for Kai and Arrowbella, should he have time for it. 

“She’s around.” His heart smiled when he thought of her, and his banner began a soft sway to illustrate his ease of speaking on her. Just damnit, he loved her. “She’s currently earning her Hunter trade, so look around for her tracks- you’ll run across her very soon.” With an attempt at a joke, he added, “we’re surrounded by nothing but brown and green, not too much white here. But if you see a small mound of it moving, there you go.”