Nova Peak Mind,

"almost twelve." a knowing quirk to his mouth. he thought of the things, all of the things that had gone on since coming here. but mahler was not ready to share any of them with asra; she was not only new, but young. and the weight round his shoulder had come with age and poor decisions. "everyvone's story is a special thing."
opting then to be more educational, more informative, mahler gestured with the broadness of his muzzle in the direction of the sea. "that vay is the ocean. there are cliffs that are empty. we moved from quite a distance avay," he went on, pausing to watch a stoat scurry its way across their path before moving onward. "ve lived upon a mountain before, a far larger vone. there vas a canyon near to us, and a band of cruel volves made it their home. ve decided to leave, and traveled here."
slipping into a trot that carried him toward the mouth of the grotto, mahler continued. "ve had young children to consider. the stipulation for our settling here vas that ve vould never allow anyvone to settle so close. and so those cliffs already are a place ve travel."