Snowforest Taiga once was a postcard

They were cousins. Masquerade bobbed her head in acknowledgement, though she went very still at the subsequent question. Perhaps Sobeille was concerned or merely curious. But there was something foreboding about the phrasing, reminding her of the way Chani had asked, “Why here?”

I’m actually just fat, she wanted to joke, inserting levity into the vaguely tense exchange, and I’m out here trying to work it off… But she noticed that Sobeille hadn’t returned her smiles, so Masque opted to maintain her straightforward diplomacy.

I wanted to stretch my legs a little, she admitted, before I’m den-bound for weeks on end.