Deepwood Weald rapid eye movement

A howled reply invited the yearling deeper into the forest, and he came with a swish of his raven tail until Morningsong's chief came into view. "Dutch, hey!" he greeted happily, a grin splitting his features. "I remember your first visit to the lodge, you seemed a lot bigger then!" He had been just a kid then - troubled and naive. Drawing himself tall and proud, he bumped the man's shoulder amicably. "Might take you up on that offer to spar - now that Dad's busy with the kids and, y'know, his leg's still not quite right." He hadn't asked what had happened, but his father's speedy recovery had laid to rest most of his worry.

A pensive expression crossed his brow at the use of his old name. Half of him wanted to correct him, to stamp out the part of himself that was not fully seal-hunter. But he knew that would not be true to himself. He had spent so long embracing his mixed identity that he stood before Dutch as Matteo, proudly.

"I wanted to see you before I headed north, but never got the chance. I guess, I came to make up for lost time."