Firefly Glen moonlight danced with the silhouettes

Although he'd nearly asked for it, the bounty hunter was still just a little shocked when Kinusi began to sing. There was very little preamble before her voice suddenly filled the air, shocking in how freely and smoothly the melody flowed from her mouth. It brought him back to those summer days when his father would visit. The whole pack seemed to anticipate his arrival. His aunts would gather 'round to coo over him, and he would be paraded out with his siblings to be doted on for a day.

Most of his childhood memories were lonesome. Dreary. Uncertain. He had not experienced the deep sense of belonging and sisterhood that most of the rest of his family had experienced. He and Coachwhip had been left to huddle together on the outskirts — never truly neglected, never viciously abused, but never fully embraced, either.

He had grown up believing himself to be something that was both second-rate and dangerous. But, on those musical days, he'd glimpsed something like what he saw today.

Catamaran was smiling by the time the song was done. Not widely, but noticeably.

"Thank you," he said, wishing his voice would not sound quite so remote. He tried to insert more feeling when he added: "It suits you."