Moonstone Quarry God looks on in abject apathy [m]

As much as he wanted to move on, her invitation drew him in. So did the turn of her attention towards him, the reach. As if he was worth the time, and possible threat, of having close. He wondered how close he could get before she would drive him away.

With a feigned indifference Raimo approached so that he could extend his snout and share a sniff with her, his whiskers trembling. She smelled of the spring air and the sea, which told him she had traveled quite far. It explained her ragged quality too — she wasn't unattractive for how thin she had become, but it was clear by the length of her body and assumed age that she wasn't at full strength.

She reminded him of the first time Raimo had seen Kukutux. Weak, injured, in need of someone to rescue her. He licks his lips thoughtfully and then looks back over his shoulder, towards the spine he had abandoned for the morning.