Swiftcurrent Creek Too cold for a run

Rather than upset him, the nickname put Ashlar a little more at ease than a normal greeting might have.  He was more comfortable with familiar things and having Dauntless speak almost as if they already knew one another made him relax.

Okay.  M-my name's Ashlar.  His tongue still got a bit twisted, but he did offer a hesitant smile to Dauntless, and looked him in the face for the first time.  My dad's hunting close by.  He felt as though he too needed to explain what he was doing here.  It was neat that he had a sister; Ashlar had no siblings of his own.  When's your sister coming?  He had no reason to want to know outside of pure curiosity, but that overcame his usual hesitance in speaking.