DISCOVERY · mottswood cenote

Small talk. Jinx had little to say when it came to small talk, if only because she wasn't necessarily sociable. She had been, once... Now, she was more like her father, and more like Lecter. More reserved, and content to remain on the outskirts of her kind's social activities. More inclined to remain separated from their ilk. She wasn't aware of it, but Hawkeye was much the same way: a loner, at least in one sense of the word. Neither wolf was fool enough to brave life without pack, but both quickly grew wary of company. Perhaps that was why their combined company always felt strained.

No, she thought sharply to herself. She mustn't forget the way Hawkeye had approached her at the hot springs, throwing accusations one minute and claiming to understand Jinx's Gods the next. She sensed movement behind her in the gentle shifting of stones as Hawkeye made her way to the water as well, spurred by Jinx's action or else curious herself.

It is brave to go over the mountain, she observed, with a tone suggesting that she herself had no love of mountains. Perhaps one day she would spend more time on their slopes, and better understand their appeal... But Jinx Kesuk was a forest wolf, right to her core, and had had no reason to ever seek higher ground. Mountains may well be the backs of giants, and one shrug could send you tumbling to your death. Or mountains could be mountains; she didn't really believe in giants.

I saw fit to chart the northern edge of the range along the coast, and found myself here. It was simple enough, but devoid of Jinx's usual dishonesty. There was no reason to lie now, for there was no benefit to be had. It didn't disadvantage her for Hawkeye to know how she'd found this place.