Sleepy Fox Hollow einigung

mahler almost asked river back to the hollow. what paused him was his immediate consideration of how wylla might feel. her whelping den had always been a protected place, and with their new home only holding their family for now, mahler wondered if she would take so soon to a new face.
but river was not new to him, and hunters would be necessary.
he put it aside for now, turning mind upon her words. "that does not sound stupid at all." the man cleared his throat and looked down toward the earth before lifting his lavender eyes once more. "i think of him also and often."
for mahler knew long and forever where the cairn lay, where it had been tumbled over with stones after the great quaking.
i no longer know what my place is in this world
inferring that something grave had happened, to leave river so, the gargoyle gently turned. he would find the way up through the sunspire, if she would allow.
"i do not need anything, river. only to stop ruining my own peace."
mahler gave her a tight smile and trudged on.