Whitefish River sail

Dauntless's heart gave an uncomfortable double-thud when Dawn appeared as well. She looked far smaller than he remembered her, although still strong and vigorous, he was now of a comparable size to her. He couldn't remember if that had been the case the last time he'd seen her, or if she was just larger than life in his memories.

"I'm sorry," he said to them both, ears splaying and posture crumbling in deep contrition. "After Dad -- I should've stuck around for everyone. But I just thought..." He didn't know. He'd thought they were all broken anyway and that nothing could ever be the same. That he'd spent enough time away from home that it wouldn't matter anymore if he was there. That they'd lost too many people and they'd keep losing people so what was the point in even trying? In loving each other?

"I've been nowhere," he went on in a lower voice, still sounding shame-faced, but not quite so gripped by it. "Just -- wandering here and there."