The words are used to show quick, straight actions, they are scattered about so that the reader has the impression that the scene is impactful as the excerpt "I was struck by the intimacy scene." shows. There is also the idea that only the ones engaged in the conversations are allowed to hear their content and finally, these people are free from their masters -- teachers, parents and any other adult that symbolizes authority.
Singular- "earth's" is singular because its showing ownership
plural- "features" is plural because its saying that there is more than one feature of the earth
Answer: “at the fountain”
