The Heartwood to pick the ship up, leave it clean

between the blackened boughs and soft wells of snow, a greyclad figure flitted. iliksis paused in his tracks and studied the presence -- the frame was short, too short to be of an adult -- and the gait lacking the fluidity of a coyote or fox.

casually, iliksis resumed his path. he cut through a cloven trunk of fir and nimbly leapt upon it, regarding the boy from a higher vantage. the proportions of lucca's limbs betrayed his age - an age that iliksis found highly vulnerable.

with a catlike twitch of his tail he slipped down from the fallen tree and prowled towards the youth. "boy," he called, lowering his head as he stepped closer. "come here, boy."