Duskfire Glacier is there anybody out there

Njal's face was stone. Grey, weathered stone, with two equally dead gems for eyes. Tuwawi was gone, leaving only Maera out of the four children that had frolicked in the fields of Swiftcurrent Creek.

"Njal.. no. You couldn't have known.." Bazi began, but it sounded.. meaningless. Had they stayed at the Creek, the family might not have experienced the tragedy they were now mired in. On the other hand, the Creek may just as well have split them in some other way - war with neighbours, insubordinate behaviour.. there were countless ways to destroy a good life.

"I can help you look after Maera," she offered lamely, shifting weight from one foreleg to the other. "I.. I had an accident, coming here. Swiftcurrent Creek probably thinks I'm dead, or a traitor. A half moon's turn won't make any difference." Her thoughts drifted to Scimitar, but didn't linger. It hurt to think what he must think of her.