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With a start, Hartekellion woke up. He groggily tried to assess what had awoken him, as the forest swam into clarity around him. From the position of the sun and shadows, he'd been asleep for a few hours. It was too quiet, he finally noticed. When he'd settled down for a nap, birds had been singing in the nearby trees, squirrels had been scolding each other, and he'd been able to hear various small creatures going about their business in the underbrush.

Now? Wind and silence.

Slowly rising to his feet, Hartek swiveled head and ears about, trying to catch some hint of what had frightened the wildlife.

Finally, he spotted something out of place. A flash of white. A staring eye. But, one far below his eye level. A foal? An Usdia?

"Hello?" he called out, taking a cautious step toward his observer.

Whoever it was, they hesitated before stepping away from cover. Yet when they did, Hartekellion found himself as wide-eyed as his little pelted observer.

"Skinwalker..." he hissed, tail lashing involuntarily in his surprise.

The claws, teeth, and pelt! But a foal?!

Hartekellion's mind reeled at the implications. He had thought it was only possible for adults to become Skinwalkers! Or did this mean that they could breed? That there might be someone out there turning foals into skinwalkers was heinous to consider, but the latter meant that they didn't need to corrupt Soquili to swell their numbers! It would be far more difficult to track their population.

Muscles tense and ready to defend himself, Hartek studied the foal, who studied him right back with wide, solemn eyes. As he considered those eyes, a thought occurred to Hartek. Adult Skinwalkers were evil to their core, but...

What if that wasn't the case with young ones? Could it be possible to teach them the difference between good and evil at this age?

Hartek considered his options quickly, eyes never leaving the foal, and came to a decision.

"Do- do you have a name?" he tested, maintaining his distance. "Are you here alone? Why were you watching me? Actually, I suppose I should ask why you chose to watch me rather than attack me."

When Hartek received a sneeze instead of an answer, he didn't quite know how to respond. This little Skinwalker... it just seemed so... harmless. Big, brutal, murderous monsters didn't sneeze!

And Hartekellion swore he could read something almost plaintive in the expression of the foal as it slowly approached him. Or could it be that the little Bearwalker was afraid of him? Or did it mean that it was alone? Alone and abandoned by a Mother incapable of feeling love for her offspring.

Hartek frowned in consternation. What should he do?

"Well... If you're all alone out here, I suppose I can understand why you'd seek out someone else. You were feeling lonely, right? Do you understand what that is? Loneliness?" he asked, relaxing ever so slightly.