Nova Peak And I know you're worried at night

kaldros listens—ears not quite fully upright, still soft and rounded at their edges, but turning toward his mother’s voice and then toward the man’s.

kahl-drosss, he murmurs to himself. his tongue stumbles a bit over it, unfamiliar still with the shapes of sounds, but he recognizes it. the name that belongs to him. the one she always says when he does something good.

he blinks up at skorpa with wide, snow-bright eyes, and while he doesn’t yet understand the full weight of the words exchanged, he understands tone. his mama sounds warm. the man sounds… not scary. not mean. just different.

he shifts against elowen’s chest, little head pressing closer as she kisses him, comforted by the scent and safety of her. her voice is his favorite sound in the world.