"Oh, wow, running around in the open areas is the best part! Least you found a clan. Deer seems pretty good for woods."

He giggles. "I remember the first girl I met. Think it was five days in."

"What was she like?"

"Nice. Loud, though. Really yellow hair. Didn't like it when I asked what bit her."

He snorts. "Why'd you ask that?"

"Never seen a girl before."

He starts laughing.

Malen rounds the nearest bend, still jogging but clearly out of breath, Rain Wolf loping behind her.

"Hi!"

She gets up to them, leans over with her hands on her thighs. "Hey. How're you guys so fast?"

"...We're fast?"

"Guess I'll have to practice lots 'fore I set out."

"Running's fun!"

"Probably funner if you're fast and don't get tired."

"Deers can run longer than wolves but wolves can go a bit faster."

"I'm gonna have to ask around if there's a tribe really good for going super long distances overland, I'm trying to travel between the Gardens without dying first."

"Why would you want to go outside the gardens?"

"I got kicked out of mine, and my friends are in danger, so I'm walking back."

"Sounds scary."

"It'd be scarier if I couldn't do anything at all."

"You're brave."

She shrugs. "Don't know if I am. Just that I'm mad, and worried, and can't do nothing."

"Is walking even allowed?"

"They'll have to stop me themselves."

“But gods have... god stuff!”