Mount Apikuni Mermaids and Crabmen

His interruption of her privacy had been intentional, but he hadn't meant to make her jump. He supposed her surprise was inevitable, considering her shyness toward him when first he found her gazing doe-eyed in his direction from her Emberwood. Artyom regarded her skittish response with a backward swivel of his gilded ears in quiet apology.

She recovered quickly, thankfully, and offered him a greeting in return. A hint of a smile bloomed on his muzzle, though it was quick to transform into a thoughtful frown. "Unfortunately no," he answered simply, and carried on: "but two of  yours arrived at our borders a few days ago, Grezig and Kavik, seeking a place to stay. What happened?" Rebel is pretty sure these particular characters would provide an explanation for having left UG, but that thread needs to progress a little to know for sure. Besides, Artyom was keen to gain another perspective, and he felt that Reiko could be trustworthy enough to provide an honest answer.