Moonspear Sal din hug og lat den ri og renna.

Njord loved history, stories, and songs. Hydra’s tale captured his attention and made him wonder if the aurora he and Meerkat had watched was the old mountain’s queen of time past. It was a pity to hear that her life had been cut short by disaster. Perhaps there were those who were too good for this mortal realm and so the netherworld beckoned them to return early.

As a youngster, the redtail refuted anything religious, spiritual, or superstitious… but he couldn’t help but become more invested in these things as he aged. Maybe it gave him comfort… or maybe, as he grew older, Njord realized there were a lot of things one would never know or understand about this world.

He stopped to take in the scenic view. Miles of sharp peaks adjacent to rolling hills were flush with springtime greenery. Several small lakes dotted the landscape.

Towhee’s question made the man reflect. “Aye, tis hard to be certain, hmm?” he mused. “When we fled Sapphique there was a short time I thought we’d claim a land named Hushed Willows. Tis a beautiful place… quiet an’ serene. But she was pregnant, then… an’ it wasnae the right time tae consider it.” The image of Meerkat among the green fronds tickled his mind.

“Ah must admit, ‘tis been difficult for me tae… assimilate here. Sometimes its felt more like a refuge than a home. A place we found shelter in a desperate time than one we picked. Ah’ve enjoyed helpin’ Sialuk build this place. Protect’n it.” There was a ‘but’ his body language telegraphed. “Ah suppose Meerkat an’ our children are my home. An’ they just happen tae be at Moonspear.”

A pang of guilt riddled his conscious to say these things. He coughed a breath, a ‘tch’ hiccup in the throat. “Och, perhaps ‘tis only just because Ah’m still healin’ my self. Meerkat an’ I ‘ave been so busy with our wee ones that it’s been difficult tae be social.” He smiled. “But at the end of the day, if my wife is happy here then that’s all I need.”