Larksong Grotto bitter sweat and circumstance

Spicy little nugget. She didn't even need to talk and he very much understood, at least partially, the message. Her scowl made it clear she didn't want whatever the hell he was doing. She didn't like his invitation. She pointed toward the mountain. He did not budge.
He wondered to himself if this little lady had gotten her way all this time just because she couldn't talk. She was a cute little girl. She was fast growing into her fluffy, awkward body. She had a feminine loveliness to her that was cute, but he knew would quickly grow ruthless if left unmanaged. He was a man. She couldn't make him to her bidding just yet.
Slowly and reluctantly, the girl gave a slight nod to his suggestion that he join her. He nodded slowly back. He was hardly a chaperone. He didn't even know whose kid this was.
Taikon walked on, and past the tall grasses where the young one's gull had been, something quite a bit grander presented itself. Herons walked the moist earth. They took off to the skies long before the two could get a really good look. Taikon continued, and as he did, he spotted what appeared to be a lake at the center of this odd, alpine place. Briefly, he glanced at his young charge. Herons, he said simply. More was ahead, but he waited for her to find it instead. He was not the leader in this escapade.