Redsand Canyon laichen

as he waited, mahler considered how many years it had been since he last saw ruenna. int the end it did not truly become the be-all, end-all. the amethyst gaze was hard-pressed to remain neutral as the woman he had last known in diaspora moved into view.
something had ruined her gait. the doktor's eyes kept politely from the way her body seemed stilted with pain — and then mahler found himself looking for a direct if brief moment at the proud swell of her sides.
midwife's mind surging; first river, now ruenna, though one had been bereft and one — she seemed scarcely far ahead of wylla herself, pronounced and nearing the end as they both found themselves to be. 
her voice was unchanged, still the same honeyed river which had so powerfully affected him during his time as kapitän.
but he had not come here to reminisce.
"hello, ruenna. it is."