Phoenix Maplewood You've got a big heart

the girl's clipped response sent his ears flat against his skull, but they slowly sprang up again as he took in her youth; she might not know better, and he had just taken them by surprise, after all. the older of the two then spoke, in much more measured tones, and he nodded, mouth relaxing the slightest bit as he heard her out. that was better.

"aditya, leader of the morningside pack," he responded, dipping his muzzle in introduction. "we relocated to these woods after a fire ravaged our home to the west. i understand that our claim is not as strong as it could be; we are still recovering from our losses."

too bad for them--they would need to move on. after the trials of the past moon, aditya was not willing to give up his treasured maplewood for any reason. he felt bad, in a way, to be so obstinate on this issue, but there was no choice. the morningsiders were comfortable here; they knew these trees almost as well as the plains.