Sun Mote Copse sea of trees

Njord scanned the verdant frontier as Meerkat spoke. Already, he had begun to imagine a life here - it was so easy! A fanciful, breathy hum vibrated from his throat as he leaned into Meerkat’s embrace, lifelike pictures of his children beside the river playing in his mind’s eye.

Then, Meerkat suggested they proverbially cut the ribbon. Her warm gaze found his and Njord’s expression began to beam. Aligned, he responded with confidence. “Aye, let us start. Let us make it ours!” The volume of his voice crescendoed into a cheer as his cadmium red tail wagged and curled over his back.

If he had hands, Njord would have clasped his wife’s and pulled her into a spin. Then, his steps turned into a gallop as he dared Meerkat to run with him.