Wheeling Gull Isle vanyan sòlda

Her reply made him think of his grandmother and her peculiar words. Caracal blinked, knowing a translation would never come unless he asked. And he didn’t think he dared.

The change of topic gave him a bit of whiplash, though the connection between her earlier question and this statement at least grounded him a little. It took him about ten seconds to realize what this meant: they were related. Though she had never met Reyes, they shared blood. Disappointment swept over him.

But his crush really had no place here, so he focused on her quiet question. Caracal gave it some thought even as he took a tentative step toward where she now sat, poised. He didn’t make himself comfortable, remaining on his feet, prepared to be sent away.

I’m home right now, he said, though he knew that wasn’t what she meant. I haven’t lived with my parents since I was pretty young. They broke up, then the pack did, but I was already traveling by then, because of the time Reyes had taken him to visit Sapphique, as a matter of fact.

But you, he said after a thoughtful pause, you still live where you were born, don’t you? Something occurred to Caracal and his stomach knotted for her. Until now, had you ever left?