"A month," he repeats. A foal would be walking right away, a kitten not too long after, but he's fairly certain that's too early for a baby to be walking and that's about the extent of his baby knowledge.

"I'm Detlef," he says a few beats later, holding out his hand. "Stablemaster, cat herder, general tender of animals ill and healthy. Welcome to Northcliff Pass." She's absolutely new. She may just be passing through, but it doesn't hurt to be welcoming.