Sequoia Coast DISCOVER · Jawbone Hill

"Atticus reminds me more of my grandpa, Aether," Pied replied as they strolled through the dry winter grass on the other side of the mill pond. "I've only talked to him a few times but you're right: he's pretty formal and a sweetheart. I'm sure there's a lot more to the story... for all three of them," she added with a flick of her tail.

They walked across the breadth of a flat plain which eventually led them to the edge of a copse of trees. Last season's rotten fruit lay at the foot of many of them and Pied bent down to sniff at them. "Apples, maybe?" she guessed, exchanging a glance with Hawkeye. "Maybe it's an apple orchard. I bet it'll look and smell lovely in the spring."

Pied very nearly jumped out of her skin when she saw a black shadow glide between two of the trees, then disappear. Fur ruffling slightly, she called out, "Hello? Who's there?" and, without looking at her, motioned for Hawkeye to come stand beside her. "Hello?" she called again when no answer came.

The yearling tipped her snout into the air and tried to find a scent but there was nothing. Her brow furrowed in confusion when the figure loped into view again, heading straight toward them. Pied stiffened, then made a sound of surprise low in her throat when she recognized none other than the grandfather she'd just been describing to Hawkeye!

"Grandpa...?" she said in disbelief, not yet noticing the faint glow surrounding him, nor the fact that he looked much too young—more like one of his aforementioned sons than his grizzled self. "What are you—?" she asked, wide eyes flicking to Hawkeye's face, as of yet still unaware that it was Aether's ghost and that her companion couldn't see a thing.