Moonsong Glacier redthread

fowldown puffed into the air as chickadee whirled in surprise. the man who had addressed her was powerfully built, scars climbing across much of his body. but it was his voice that sparked recollection; these were the deep tones that had risen over the village, the ones kivaluk had gone to greet that day.
was this ...?
but she wouldn't assume! "hi, uh," sheepish, tail waving tentatively, "i'm chickadee from moonglow, ah, village. i'm — kivaluk, we're," wow what a great first interaction with moonsong. 
chickadee had not seen the man's expression change; she saw only the veiled way in which he held himself, and wondered. gathering nerve and better words, she started again: "kivaluk is going to be my husband. i came to see ariadne, but really, i wanted to meet his father."
now she did meet the man's eyes, measuring him without malice.