Swiftcurrent Creek Frostfall

The woman's voice was soft. The sound of it reminded him of butterfly wings. Maybe stronger - a flutter of bird feathers in flight. Nicodem was certain that he had never met someone like her. She was so unlike his mother that he found it surprising.

The question she had asked would never know an answer. The dark boy closed the space between them and inspected her legs with a prod of his nose and a few snorts. She smelled of the creek. He knew that she would be safe to be with, belonging to Akavir's claim.

Nicodem moved away from her legs and placed himself where he could see her face. His eyelashes fluttered as he tested her scent on the air.