Mount Apikuni cat and mouse in partnership

wintersbane is patient and attentive as thade responds, glacial gaze watching the boy as he shares; and is grimfaced at the end of the tale. he’d assumed by ‘mother’ thade meant wylla but doubts that because wylla was in sagtannet and didn’t add up. he makes a noncommittal noise in the back of his throat, glacial gaze lifting from the boy to glimpse; sharpeyed, at their surroundings. but this ‘mother’, whomever she was, doesn’t appear to be around. the gauntness of thade’s appearance suggests obvious neglect. i see, wintersbane intones, voice rasping over the pitter-patter of rainfall. well, you’re safe now. and i will take you home. to sagtannet.

if wintersbane could do nothing else right, let this be the one thing he did. for the boy’s sake.

the visceral reaction from thade startles the tundrian with the ferocity of his rejection and the heart-shattering wail; pleading for him not to leave. alright, thade. it’s alright. i’m not leaving you. i won’t leave you. wintersbane promises fiercely, hoping to soothe the obvious fear of abandonment the boy had. tell you what, lets go hunting together, yeah?