Dragoncrest Cliffs I tread on careful feet

He told her he’d been born on this very coast. She couldn’t place Horizon Ridge, though she nodded to acknowledge the name’s familiarity, as well as the bay’s. The story went off the rails a bit from there, Meerkat halting in her step and staring a little at Gunnar’s face when he spoke of his father’s madness and a fire.

For a moment, she wasn’t really sure what to say. She was very curious and he hadn’t batted an eyelash while relaying any of this to her. But would it be prudent for Meerkat to press him about what must surely be terrible memories? She deliberated for a minute, then decided against it, resuming her walk once more.

There was one thing she could think to say, which was, Your experiences sound like they track for these wilds. She huffed a small, dry laugh before asking, What about a family of your own…?