Shadewood Even though we know it, everyone remains in play.

Riley missed the smile on Masque’s face, but he did feel her shoulder bump and looked back with an anticipatory grin. While her mind had been on the very serious topic of the naming of puppies (spoiler alert: yes, there will be ridiculous names), Riley’s mind had been on food and the act that serves as progenitor of puppies.

He turned an ear to her whisper. A solid game plan, affording that she could not get hurt.

Squeals to their left sounded. Riley nodded and army crawled forward, every sense on high alert. A skittering of leaves ahead suggested the group was close — and somewhere to his left again came the long scrape of nose against damp forest soil.

He inched forward another couple of feet, his pelt prime camouflage. Rustling several yards away told him they were close — but Riley had yet to see the boar.