Wheeling Gull Isle they are one person

Phox flinched, the words she spoke feeling... something. He could not place the emotion, but he was not sure he wanted to, anyway. To speak of Niamh's absence reminded him of their children, wherever they were. They're Redhawks, he reminded himself, Alyx's voice echoing in his head.

He did not know how he felt about a stranger apologizing for Niamh's behavior. It felt hollow, but Phox smiled anyway and nodded. A silent thank-you was as much as he could muster. It was entirely possible she did not know any other way to talk to him.

A rift in friendship, he said. There was, obviously, more to it than that, but the details of it didn't matter anymore. Phox would just as soon forget it and move on, if only he could find her. If only he could find her and make things okay again.