Phoenix Maplewood that the vicious cycle was over

the stranger that approaches with a friendly bark is not anselm or gideon. disappointment is a constant companion to ezra on days like this, despite knowing that the likelihood of him stumbling across either his father or his brother by wandering neutral territories was slim. he didn't even know which way they had gone. he could be heading towards one but in the opposite direction of the other ... or the opposite direction of both of them.

or —

he shuts that thought down before it can even begin to form.

he felt like a broken record asking strangers if they'd seen either of them but maybe, just maybe someone might offer him a lead.

even a crumb was more than he and his mother had to go on at the moment.

hey, ezra greets, unable to help but stare at the man's mismatched gaze. are you from around here? he asks without preamble.