Bearclaw Valley count it all joy

He stagnated for a moment, then as he turned to continue in his way something bludgeoned his rear; he spun sidelong quickly and was met with the one-eyed stranger speaking gruffly, candid with her apologies. He shrank back from them out of habit. This was definitely the same person he had been tracking but now that they faced one another, Larus seemed to forget the next step in socialization.

He clears his throat, and after a minute or two of awkward silence he finally says, Sorry, my fault. Was... confused. This valley is pretty. A dopey little smile spreads on his face but slips away just as quick, and he glances to the shadows lining the trees as if expecting something to rise from them.