Sun Mote Copse boots on the ground i'm ready to go

Njord picked up that he definitely had missed some part of their exchange. Meerkat was quick to shuttle away her mother, who looked more ornery than usual. Or maybe it was exasperation? He met Meerkat’s gaze and, with a nod, let them leave without insisting on small talk.

Then, his attention turned back to Towhee Jr. She had grown so much! A young girl had become a young woman with rugged, amazonian features. Plus, a few new scars, to boot. Truly, she was her mother’s doppelganger.

And even though she was technically Meerkat’s sister, Njord had always felt very responsible for her… like how an uncle or a father would. Honestly, she was too young for him to think of himself as an older brother.

When they were alone, Njord exhaled and deflated a bit as his expression became knit to convey his concern.

-I worry… I was worried… very worried- Njord corrected his tense. -You did not come back to Moonspear.- He signed the obvious. Then, his good ear turned to TJ as if to ask why?