Moonspear long in tooth and soul

Not usual, but indeed what things were usual about their particular lives? He received little in the way of comfort from Arcturus, but he hadn't quite sought it either. Whatever comfort he had when it all began had been funneled towards the children even when he couldn't quite pin down how they felt—perhaps it were a strange combination of unease and anticipation of the exciting variety, though there was little no doubt in his mind that Hydra had explained just why they needed to stick close. And there was little doubt in his mind then that they were presently testing that particular clause in their instruction.

"I'm not so sure there's much we are to make of it." He sounded far more humored than he ought have. "And I suspect there is relatively little we can do than endure it." If the mountain decided to give way on them, then all he hoped for was enough sense, time, and luck to steer clear of it. He knew better than to rely on his own instinct to flee; it was always present, even now, though more in the sense to wander and be wild with little to justify the notion. It was hardly from boredom, as the mountain surely provided the interest with all upon it, least of all the aforementioned brood.

Drawing his gaze outward as they traveled along, he continued.

"Did you see that the stones to the north gave way? The ones in the foothills outside our claim. I heard it some time ago, but you can see the swath they made through the weeds from the border."