Briar said nothing, merely towered above him with a terrible grin as he approached. It was enough to make him flush, pleased to see her in all her glory. The more he looked, though, the more strange she looked, until it hit him. She didn't have a shadow! How odd... some sort of witchcraft?

It didn't matter, at the end of the day. She was still here, blazing bright, Thorn cawing above her. She truly was never without that bird. It was endearing in a way, he supposed. Lovett couldn't think of anything worse than being followed around by something so loud, but she seemed to enjoy his company nonetheless.

Tipping her head back, she howled, and he was unable to stop himself from joining her once he reached a comfortable closeness, allowing their voices to meld and soar higher, louder, stamping their claim atop the mountain. His heart clenched briefly; there was something primal about howling in a duet, something he quite enjoyed.