Bearclaw Valley apertivo

slapped on the shoulder mid-shout, val's nose throbbed with the additional contact. he skulked, wanting to rub his nose and at the same time terrified to touch it.

meanwhile stryx continued to masticate a sluice of herbs and bitters; this time val kept sullen distance. nut up, she said -- a strange term val didn't have time to question. stryx's words were muffled, as if spoken between layers of fur. do i need to count for you? he shook his head slowly. "fghanks." val finally ventured between a gulp of held breath, recognizing her intentions had been good even if painful.