Moonspear quaking forest

Save for a cough every now and again, Meerkat didn’t make a sound as Seal told her all about the other young girls. She expressed a desire for them to come visit the mountain, which her mother was sure could be arranged at some point. It was too bad she hadn’t been able to acquaint with all of her cousins quite so intimately.

Sounds like a good problem to have, Meerkat said with a little wink. How were your aunt and uncle? Did you get much opportunity to visit with them? she wondered, though she doubted Seal had made time for the adults with so many playmates around!

Meerkat decided to descend toward the northern border, where the mountain whittled away toward Silverlight Terrace on one side and Ghost Lion Crag on the other. It was strange to think of the air as thicker down here, though Meerkat knew it was thinner the higher one climbed. And she wondered if going down might not give her lungs a little boost.

In fact, she felt remarkably better for the fresh air and exercise. Meerkat still coughed like clockwork, though it was so good to be out in the sunshine, especially with Seal bending her ear. She looked at her daughter fondly as they strolled along, an idea taking shape in the Councilor’s head as she gently steered her daughter westward.