Flycatcher Downs I'm a giver

it had indeed been a while since he had last seen her. the more he thought on it, the harder his head ached. he believed he had seen maia before running into cadeau and venturing with her. it frustrated him to think that he could not even recall the last time he had seen cadeau, let alone the last time he had crossed paths with maia. the idea that she had not changed felt bittersweet in the pit of his stomach; he had hoped that she would remain a joyous radiant light, but he had not fully expected that to have stuck. life was often dreadfully hard, even on those who did not deserve it.
 
there were several things he wanted to say to her, but he couldn’t find the strength of spirit to do so. he wondered if she was happy – if she had found someone who loved and cared for her the way she deserved. he wondered if she had a family out there, in the woods she sought to claim with her family. all of these queries and none of them felt appropriate after not having seen her for so long.
 
“i’m nearby,” he answered her in his gruff voice, looking back toward the valley and the ursus beasts. “the valley back there accepted me a short while ago and i’ve been serving them to repay their kindness.” the rest of it was much too complicated to drop in her lap. he knew well enough that the residents of the bear pack were not fondly regarded by other beasts in the nearby wilderness.
 
“how… are you?”