Very aware of the presence of a herd of sheep he had been from the time he had entered the area --it wasn’t as if the little creatures like land-clouds were an easy sight to miss-- and yet, despite the blatantly different white wool, the figure of an unmoving person drew Connor’s attention more than anything. Were they asleep, attacked, or something else entirely? From where he stood, whether the other was the shepherd or shepherdess was less than apparent, making the particulars of why they weren’t moving all the more obscure.

   If they were asleep, his concern and subsequent inquiry would perhaps be crossing some boundary, and if they were attacked, they may simply be dead. But then, this was Connor; such thoughts were only produced in hindsight vision --a mere transient breeze in the mind of the man already squatting down beside the stranger woman.

“I brought you a present. I know I should come and visit you more but... things have been preoccupying outside of the city.” Shaun dips his head in apology and holds out a box of French artisan chocolates. “I know... they’re not much, but I figured you don’t get something this sweet very often, but the shop keep assured me they are of superb quality. I may have tried one myself — it was mouthwatering. Ah, I don’t even know if you like sweet things—”