Sleepy Fox Hollow sunset

The boy had an odd way of speaking, but not an unpleasant one. There was a sharpness to some of the sounds that Vivienne had not expected; her ears twitched, and then she was busy thinking of a response to his answer - and considering many things. He gave a name for himself and for this place; she recited them to herself as she contemplated how to answer about her skills.

Well, um, I come from a family of naturalists, I suppose you could call them. It felt odd to speak of her family - painful, to some degree, and it somewhat alienated her to think of them because the emotion she felt was so strong and so private, equally. My brothers are squires and knights; my father a paladin, and my mother a -- witch, some have called her; but Viv could not say this - healer. She taught me about the natural world and how to appreciate all that live within it. Ecology, then.

I'm a bit of a jack-of-all-trades. Which wasn't much to present, thought Vivienne. She was truly a master of nothing! But I learn quickly, and -- anything I can help with, I'll happily put in the work. I like to be busy. She felt suddenly bashful, and concerned that she'd not said the magic words that might win her a home.