Swiftcurrent Creek my name in your mouth, that was all it took

Her confusion caught him completely off guard. Cambria froze, his breath catching in his throat as a horrible realization—I’ve fucked up—swept through him. He had never anticipated that she might be oblivious to her brother’s disappearance somehow. It had never occurred to him that Etienne, Suzu et al may have tried to shield the other children by avoiding telling them the truth.

Or maybe, he reasoned, exhaling raggedly, he’s back. The more he thought about it, it was the only thing that made any kind of sense. Surely she would’ve noticed her brother’s absence if it had gone on long enough. She was young but from these past few minutes, Cambria could already tell she was smart.

Oh, I must be confused, he said slowly. How is he? And how are your other brother and sister? Caliste and Saturin, right? the yearling asked. Eti’s told me all about you guys. He cares about you a great deal, he said, thinking of recently finding him sobbing over Requin’s disappearance and fighting a frown.