Blackbeak Bluff 'YOU'RE GOOD. YOU'RE WORTH LOVING.

I hope you feel better soon! And Hviske definitely seems like a soft spoken fellow. <3

the islander watched him as he spoke raptly, latching on to each word and stashing them away in a hidden pocket. 

for now, elspeth was buoyant. floating. lost at sea. she bobbed about in this new land with little grasp on their -- or at least, hviske's -- language or culture. 

she wanted to know everything. 

something shifted on the granite features of his face. ciaradh went from being open, at ease to gripped by pain. the fierce gold of his eyes fogged with it, squeezing shut as if he could shy away from it. 

ellie floundered silently, guilt burning in her chest. she didn't know what to do, how to help. 

almost certain that it was something within, some thing of the mind, she hesitantly lowered herself and stretched toward him.

the cold snow burrowed into her coat, flush against her chin and throat. a single paw reached out, coming to rest over his. comforting, albeit shaky. 

her gaze flicked to him, watching as the spell seemed to end and he glanced wearily skyward. 

she could not remember a place that felt like home. she had been forced to find a home in herself, in her own mind.

sometimes, an understanding silence was better than empty words. but after a moment, the she-dog straightened and slowly pulled her paw back.

the lilting words came under her breath, "it helps to find what makes you happy." it helped that he couldn't understand her.

"what makes ye happy?"