Moonspear blinking in the starlight

Katmai smiled at this recollection, a warm, wistful feeling surging in his chest. That was the sort of thing he wanted to see here. Children playing carelessly, heedlessly on the slopes. It reminded him of his own childhood — and so did the flood.

He was lost in thought for a moment, remembering the way things had been when his family had left Moontide. He thought of his seal hunter uncle with a quiet pang.

"I hope that this village will be a place like that, one day," he told her, his tone contemplative. "Where children run and play. I am sorry for the loss of your home, Kira. Perhaps you may find it again here."

He gave a little wag of his tail.

"Did Kindle tell you much about everyone?" he asked, curious about what his uncle's take on the others might be.