Neverwinter Forest (m) he reflects hope and worry like a troubadour

The panther hunted today for sticks instead of game. He would need many for his current project, and they would need to be large and sturdy — and yet small enough for him to haul back home on his own.

He supposed he could have asked for help, but although he intended for the lodge to be of use to the whole pack, it still felt like a selfish endeavor. He wanted a lodge because it was where seal hunters lived, and he had a superstitious sort of idea that this would somehow attract them. He knew, rationally, that this was not the case — that he would need to invite them, which was no trouble at all. But perhaps it would encourage them to stay longer.

Lost in such thoughts, Dutch stood eyeing a large branch for a long, long moment.