Redhawk Caldera Solutions to my gloom.

The apparent delay in processing does not pass Bassetki by, but she does not suspect or even consider deafness until she hears Towhee speak. It is a laboured process, and she wrongly attributes it to never having heard spoken words – not injury.

Perhaps that was why her words did not land. This poor woman had spent her life stabbing in the conversational dark.

Bassetki tips her nose up, then raises her head a little. Her stark, almost white eyes regard the elder's ember. "Here?" she says, not bothering to disguise the mild horror that leaves a mark in her voice. "Forgive me, Elder, I could not allow roots to take hold here." Then, judging that it might be acceptable to sit upright, she adds, "My name is Bassetki."