Verdant Basin even in the darkness he's grasping for it

The voice that called back was husky, thick. Not one of a woman - unless that woman was somehow confused.

Neizan was in the middle of his approach (his strut, right) and slowed down, pacing a few more steps as he came upon where the pale body had been situated. They had a dark head, and a ruddy complexion to their ears. Definitely not his wife — definitely not a woman, either!

Maldito. You aren't who I thought. Perdón!

Still, the man sized-up his competition. That's all other people amounted to: women were for one thing, men another. This was a boy at the very best, and so Neizan shoved him in to a particular category.

I thought maybe you were someone else — my wife, or her friend! Have you seen her? A woman. He did not give specifics on purpose; and he spoke quickly, letting his high energy overwhelm where it could. That always got the best responses.