Whitefish River I made wine from the lilac tree

slight pp with permission!

He wakes to the sound of an unfamiliar voice, startled enough to flinch slightly — but thankfully, the whole affair doesn't seem to rouse @Evergreen, who only stirs faintly. Winterbourne rises slowly, careful to avoid jostling his companion as he steps from the den as quickly and quietly as possible. Shhhh! It slips from him the moment he sees the woman, an automatic reaction to her loud greeting. His tone lacks malice, though he knows it isn't exactly polite to shush a stranger anyway. Still — Evergreen's sleeping — we can talk over there. His own voice is hushed, and he turns to lead her a reasonable distance away without waiting for a response, determined to get her away from the den before she wakes Evergreen.