Swiftcurrent Creek ghost in hanging lights

"h-hello, s-suzu," lestan managed bashfully, paws dirtied from his digging and mouth still smeared in a little blood. swiftly he tired to remedy both in one movement, coming across as rather disjointed.
"are y-you w-well? and th-the l-little ones?" lestan was aware that the creek was one short for now but had no real notion beyond that of who had gone where.
"a d-duck, th-this time," he said at last, motioning to the mound of earth beneath the blackberry bush. "i h-hope all of y-you enjoy it." it felt more than a little nice to be needed, though this was only a temporary state for suzu and soon she would be up hunting most of her own meals again.