Ravensblood Forest walking with giants

His attempts to cheer her mood were met with dismissal, but Murk was not dissuaded by her attitude. In fact, her misery intrigued him greatly. "A healer, ye say?" Curiosity at her use of the past tense begged the question: "What happened to her?" Was she a doctor too? With her attitude, he wouldn't be surprised. 

While she reclined, Murk remained on his feet. "A grisly tale of self-sacrifice," he grinned, "burning the old to make space for the new." It was a tale as old of time along coasts like these. Where giants grew there followed a trail of destruction. He supposed the same could be said about his folks back home; when one became too weak, well, "If me ma taught me anything, it's to never get too attached."

Satisfied with his words of wisdom, his tail began to stir between his hocks as she finally gave him a name. "Mictecawhatsit? Never heard a language like yers before." Nevertheless, Murk decided he liked the way it sounded. "Call me Murk."