Redhawk Caldera some day they will all be dead

Something about the way she said those three words told Caracal not to ask any more questions, even though he had so many. What did she mean, "all"? And what had they lied about? He wracked his brain, trying to remember what Towhee had told him about it. But he really couldn't recollect any of the messy details.

Anyway, Vesper seemed interested in heading to the Hobbit Hole, so the boy bounced onto all fours and said, "I'll keep it slow." As much as he wanted to introduce Vesper to one of the territory's focal points and the wolves who resided there, he hadn't forgotten she was in some measure of pain.

Thinking that she and Towhee would be two peas in a pod that way, he motioned for her to follow as he strode away from the shore, headed toward the caldera's eastern slope. From a distance, he pointed out the dogwood tree to her, asking if she could see the den's mouth below it. He kept his pace reasonable as promised, especially when they began the inevitable climb.

When they arrived, he peeked his head inside and saw that Towhee was there, albeit asleep. Caracal quickly backed out, pointing at the hilltop and saying, "She's napping. Let's go hang out up there until she wakes up. Or," he added even as the thought occurred to him, "you can rest in there with her. I'm sure she wouldn't mind. Up to you, though."