Wheeling Gull Isle Teach your children well. . .

She cast her gaze aside to find Etienne in her periphery, giving her the once-over as he approached. She forced a smile and rose to sit upright, stifling a yawn—but only just.

Hi, Etienne, Lilitu greeted, tail tip flicking briefly in greeting. How're you doing? Everything okay with you and Suzu?

He'd mentioned a "Theo," and she assumed—well, knew, probably—that he was now here, alive and well. But obviously an event like that was going to rattle any youngster, and he had the tense, sharp lines of someone who couldn't relax.

How could they, after what happened?