Bearclaw Valley remember me,

ever the modest man cole was, which perhaps is what made him so easy to talk with. her interest blossomed at the mention of her daughter, the nickname he'd bestowed upon the girl bringing forth a blissful chuckle from the mother. annie. it was cute.

"as her mother i'm a bit jealous she spends more time with you than me," she teased, an ounce of sadness twinged in her voice knowing she was partly to blame for her daughter's distance. "but i'm glad she's with you. learning from you." there weren't many others she knew well enough in the valley to trust with the care of her children.

"you connect with her in a way i'll never be able to." there was truth in this, nephele knew it so. "i'm grateful she has you."