Sheepeater Cliff The dark of summer

When he made a comment about the birds and frogs at the lake, Koontz looked at him shrewdly, then decided it must be a jest. Her lips twitched and her tail waved as she replied, "Well, many herds congregate there, particularly around midday on hot days." She wondered if he would take this hint and check out the lake on one of these steamy July afternoons. She felt certain he would find much more than small animals and spoor then.

"I don't," she responded lightly. "I don't really intend to actively hunt but, all the same, two noses are better than one. And four eyes and ears are better than two?" Koontz laughed at herself. "Or would it make more sense to say 'two sets'?" She caught herself thinking out loud, shook her head and added, "And if I was planning on hunting, I'd definitely want you to come along. Your build reminds me of my mother's and she was—still is and likely will be until her dying day—a formidable hunter."

With this comment lingering between then, Koontz swiveled and inspected the nearest footholds as she prepared to ascend the steep cliff. Keeping her tail rigid to assist with balance, she began to climb, though she stopped after only a few yards to check on Teklar. Her smooth gray snout angled over her shoulder as she peered at him. Assured that he was right behind her, the yearling faced forward again and made a daring bound forward onto a small ledge. It might have looked impressive, except that she miscalculated its width and ended up smashing her muzzle into the rock wall, causing an immediate and rather violent nosebleed.