Moonsong Glacier Lost in the Shadows

The panther nodded; he had spent his anger already, and in the aftermath, found that there was little that needed to be forgiven. She was at an age where Dutch had still been learning what he wanted from life — and perhaps he was learning still. It had been irresponsible to leave without speaking to anyone. Perhaps it had been cowardly, too — Dutch could not decided whether he preferred that over careless. But her leaving had not left them in so difficult a place. The loss of two hunters was a hit, but one that Moonsong, Morningsong, was fit enough to take.

Apparently.

"I find, perhaps, that it suits me," he admitted to the other man. "Though I would like to have done something to earn it, rather than have it fall into my lap — and it is far from Moontide, and Chakliux. I will not have so much time to visit."

This was his worry. But it was not the "news" he had wanted to share.

"We have a young man here called Leith," he said to Alaric. "He is interested in medicine and... ornithology." He gazed intently at the other man to see if the word was familiar to him. "I said that he might seek tutelage from you." But it was a question; he gave the man a moment to refute this.