Phoenix Maplewood look around, leaves are brown

Murdock had never thought overmuch of his seniority, either. Sunspot had ruled the roost since she was able to speak, and Murdock hadn't the heart or inclination to challenge that - it just wasn't his style.

"I'll leave the chasin' to you young bucks," he replied, though a year didn't make much difference except in the first and last stages of a wolf's life. the words were said mostly in jest either way.

Murdock turned and began to seek cover, though he longed to go back to his brother and ask the dozens of questions that now plagued his mind like a cloud of locust. How were the kids? Had he seen Spot or Grayday? Was he looking for a place to settle down?

It was difficult to focus with all that was going on in his head, but he was determined to see the hunt through. Murdock crouched in the tall grass and waited.