Bitterroot Valley she had been forced into prudence in her youth,

mahler had not heard the syllables before that she spoke. he felt, surely, that he might have heard something from takiyok, at one time, but did not accurately recall it. it hurt him to think of her, to know he had hurt her again and again and then, irreparably at the end. his was a poisonous sort of interaction, and in retrospect, perhaps she had been correct to leave with taikon.
she had been a seal-hunter? and a woman who hunted, which was of interest. mahler translated as deftly as he was able, nodding in amused agreeability. "vell then. allow me to help you, imaq." he was eager to know what sort of hunters duskfire possessed, knowing them also to be in keeping of good medics.