Welcome to Gaia! ::

Even with the boom of his chatter, Harakan kept a sharp ear open for just such disturbances. He'd half-turned by the time he heard a little gasp and steadier breaths. Nothing had happened, the ground hadn't given way. All was well. Gave the surveyor a chance to check on the ribbonwork, too. "Shouldn't be too much longer, Aurick. Just speak up if we need to range further out and around." While this might have been for travelers' benefit, it would most definitely be to the road crew's. But if the baker didn't feel safe, then the later folk wouldn't either. "Sounds a healthy attitude to have. Never had siblings; is it just you and her?"

Though he nodded to the compliment, Harakan wasn't in the habit of keeping his mouth shut. "There's something to that, I'll warrant. Noticed that the folk happier to cook are often better at it. Afraid I'll disagreee with your example, tho'. For sailors I'd put it as a matter of morale, and thus a necessity. You're on the mercy of the ocean if everybody's not pulling their own weight and then some, wot? And I don't often hear of the ocean having much in the way of mercy. Us up in thr mountains? Hard place, to be sure, but we can just up sticks and toddle off if we can't stomach the food."

More cautious stepping, coming around thr main mound, and... And there came the edge of the path, just a little ways on! ""Keep steady, almost there."

The rambling cheer didn't let up. It kept coming, steady, constant. Something to focus on, for both young men. "How close we are doesn't matter. One stable step at a time. We'll push a little ways more; I can adjust our markers on the way back. Should be a sight easier with the solid minimum like you've hung so far." As asked, the staff began testing at lower portions of the slope, no longer angling their route directly for the nearest bit of road. It would take a little longer, but the earth soon firmed more under their feet. The baker's guide was in no hurry. It would take as long as it took to make the trip right.

That Aurick had two mothers had either slipped right by the Geian lad, or else been noted and otherwise dismissed. Apparently some folk took offense to that sort of thing, he'd heard. Lungs couldn't supress a snort at the notion. Humbug. As if it were any of their business. Then again, there's fussy sorts that should take umbrage at anything. Like that chap last month with a waterproof map 'round his neck, arguing with a whole lyari herd... "I take it Mr. Fairworth is your... Uncle then, let's say? Or had I misread your baking master? My parents had me call friends of their generation auntie or uncle. Simplifies things, wot?"

That his Mama had her reference in the past tense caught up with him around the time the main path came back into clear view. The rolling voice dropped a third of its volume, tho' it still rolled around any open space available. Once the earth came solid under his footsteps, Harakan's green eyes turned rather more softly to the taller boy. "Oh. I'm sorry to hear of her. You alright, Aurick?"