The words she spoke remained foreign to him, and as her singing ceased, and she spoke to the flowing river, Aivar could no longer really make out her words. Intonations, burbling of water, they took turns reaching straining ears. What was she doing? His eyes squinted, straining to see what she tossed into the river.

He didn't want to interrupt whatever she was doing, but he was also desperately curious. Looking down, he saw a greyed, dry piece of wood and intentionally stepped down on it. A crack announced his presence, and he stumbled forward, shaking his head as if he hadn't realized she was there at all.

He smiled sheepishly at the girl, tail swaying as his ears pulled back. “I heard you singing,” he said.