Wheeling Gull Isle danseuses de delphes

he startled her, slightly, and Tahani wheeled around, nearly dropping the rock in the process. Tauhou. well. . .almost. she set it down just as he began to ask about it, still stuck on the fact that he'd pronounced her name wrong. Tahani, she corrected kindly, not faulting him in the least. it wouldn't be fair, not when her common tongue was so broken.

the healer shrugged in response to his question, bending to touch the stone with her nose once more. pretty, she said simply, smiling. i like. in sand. ah. . . she trailed off, not knowing how to answer further. it had been the only one like it that she had seen, so--no? no more? how would she say that?

how did one say anything?

who are you? she asked instead, looking back up at him. like Moorhen and the dark, beautiful leader, he smelled strongly of the sea, and walked as if he knew this place well.