Heron Lake Plateau every sunrise begins with new eyes.

Figment, Ulrich murmured, finding the name strange. Why would anyone name their child a word that meant fake? It seemed... unkind. He forced a kind of vague smile onto his face, hoping he hadn't looked disturbed at the man's name. Well, I don't recognize your surname... Of course, I don't leave home very often.

Ulrich couldn't help but flinch automatically when Fig shook out his coat, but the man had been thoughtful and stayed far enough back that he wasn't hit. How's the water? Cold? he asked.

At the question about whether he was from around here, he decided to trust the man, at least somewhat. There's an isle directly to the north of us, Two Rivers Isle, named so because it is, well, surrounded by a river that splits on either side. My wife and I have made our home there, as well as a smattering of others. No need to mention his pups, even now. He held them close to his heart, a precious secret. Do you live nearby? I have not seen you before.