Verdant Basin A thing or two

he shrugged, lips pulling taut in a grimace of acknowledgement. i've never liked winter, aditya remarked, but yes, this is worse than most i've seen. 

and he'd seen a lot. the man dared to move a few paces closer, now that the woman seemed at least not openly hostile. he observed her pelt, her frame. if there were any scents upon her, they were not ones he knew—but then, who would he know, being so long gone from this place?

did easthollow still exist? swiftcurrent? undersea?

so what brings you out in this awful weather? he inquired, ears cupped forward to catch her response. his hawkish gaze observed her, gimlet gold. he'd grown sharper over the years, less inclined to pleasantries and more focused on the goal, of getting what he needed with as little effort as possible.

but, every so often, he did miss a nice conversation. he had brook, true, but there were the days when he could converse with just about anyone. . . better days.