Rattleskin Redoubt april is the cruellest month

She gestured as she spoke, and he followed the movement, peering toward the mountains that loomed in the distance. Mountains he'd seen—not crossed. The land flattened out past his birth pack, and he'd avoided an alpine journey—

Maybe it would be good there, though. High up, safe from harm.

Her query came wordlessly, but he answered with words in kind. . .well, one or two, anyway.

Yeah, he replied. Yes. Once.

The clipped syllables should have told her all she needed to know. His face was reticent, gaze far off. 

Anything short of bringing him back to his mother's breast would not mend the tattered agony that was his early boyhood.

I am looking for a home, Caligula said. His voice was dark and halting; a young raven's croak. Must find a good place.