Moonsong Glacier and he's asleep in the bed he made the night before

Dutch was too lost in his task to notice Eira's laugh — but he certainly noticed when Hototo flew out of the woods to aid him. They hauled together on the branch, eventually scraping it past the rock it'd been caught on. Dutch licked his chapped lips and tasted blood, but his concern was for the piece that'd snapped off of the branch. He'd chosen it specifically for the fork, and now he had to mourn the loss of said fork.

Later, though. He had an audience, today.

"Eira has much more important tasks," said Dutch, coming forward to knock his shoulder against the other man's in greeting. He passed him to sniff noses with Eira, and his tail wheeled in hyperdrive at the healthy scent of her. It was easy to miss the fast-fading aroma of her heat — but it was impossible to disguise the heavy scent of Fallen Sun she carried with her.

He looked back at Hototo, wondering if he had missed the woman's season entirely. It was probably for the best, but he sought now to lay down the order of things:

"She must keep herself fed, and we must help," he said, his voice firm. But his mood was vastly improved since the two had shown up, and he now saw fit to say, "Thank you for the help. A more stubborn or possessive rock I have never met."