Noctisardor Bypass the loxian gate

"yeah!" heda exclaimed. "she can be your aunt too. oh, and she can tell us more about winter. when we see her again." heartened by druid, as always, she quick-nipped toward her sister's ear with a playfully controlled gesture, and then set off toward where the edge of the lagoon widened into the rich dark earth of silencepine.
roots here were exposed. the air hung with the scent of earth. the needled trees were quiet, reaching high toward the sky. heda wound between them, hunting for first the scent of birds.
discovering light tracks and tiny droppings, she looked at druid. "this is from quail." the feathers left behind were easily sucked into a nostril if one wasn't careful with their scenting. "too tiny to even eat!" heda exclaimed in a stage whisper, shrugging.