Sun Mote Copse herald

It was odd to have a choice presented to him. Not that Reki was without autonomy back home — but, he did not anticipate such freedoms from strangers. Njord did not enforce anything. Reki could go with him or stay with Meerkat, which he decidedly preferred, and all would be well. The boy did not need to think about this choice at all. It wasn't that he disliked the idea of work, or disliked this man Njord, but he was more comfortable around the woman... Something Reki would not think deeply about.

Their path changed—and Njord led the way along to another border. Reki noticed that the scents here were thin; they were of the man and woman, but needed to be refreshed. He scraped at the dirt when he came to an exposed section of the hill where the ferns seemed less plentiful, and then carried on.

Is it only you two? He voiced quietly, and bent to sniff some plants; he asked more to make conversation than anything. Reki hadn't sensed anyone else with them on his own arrival, and hadn't seen any other adults in the area. I mean... Nobody else has come to the Copse?