Whitebark Stream somnus

a smile now, something swift but identifiable this. "yes, alsek. gods. they are the voices you hear but cannot see. and sometimes, they look like a fox. or a wolf. or a blackbird." he said all of this warmly, somberly. it was how he had been informed when he was a similar age, and the truth of it had never failed germanicus.

the soldier nodded. "that is very good." a close approximation for a child. "i will tell you about eagles. they are much bigger than blackbirds, and they scream while they fly. it is a powerful thing to hear." he stepped some paces forward, invited alsek along. "where will you go now?"