Neverwinter Forest where silence comes

The more anxious columns of his mind were already stressing about what he might be asked to do to prove himself, even worrying that he might be laughed out of here. That had happened to him before, after all. But Ico took comfort in the fact that neither wolf interrupted his tale nor quirked a brow at his concerns, and when he finished he stifled a shaky breath and listened.

Vallkyrie was drawn to his interest in telling histories and boosting morale with stories. Ico stored away the sad knowledge that Neverwinter had been through some difficult times of late, but said nothing.

Start over. Figure out who you are. Be yourself... and all that.

These concepts made Ico's heart swell with warmth, and he finally smiled, albeit shyly. Thank you, Mal. And Vallkyrie. Thanks... he bowed his head to both, heart thudding. He hardly dared glance at that treeline; that hauntingly beautiful forest he had been staring at for days. Could he truly be allowed to call it home?

I promise I'll contribute, with all I've got.