Dragoncrest Cliffs when it's time to get ill, we'll be so ahead of time --

the sea air; val marveled this with a small smile. he thought of the inland children he knew in bearclaw, and this too brought melancholy to the surface. were they well, did they live?

were their lives better for him in it?

he sighed and uncrossed a paw. much in the same manner as mireille, it made val sad to think of how the children would never grow up to laugh alongside erzulie, or gather seaweed with rosalyn. how would they know that their quick wit came from souls they'd never know?

and sobo -- a pang wrench val's heart. they'd named one of their own for him, but it did not bring him back. nothing would.

his gaze found mireille's for a moment as she revealed her plans for next season. he admired her more than he could ever put in words. how could she be so poised and confident about the future, how could she know what she desired most in her heart, and furthermore, have the unrelenting courage to pursue it?

for rosalyn and erzulie. val cemented, holding the gleam of her verdant gaze in understanding.