Blacktail Deer Plateau changing the shape

He was impatient these days, waiting for Grayday and Catori to get on with it and have the litter already. The selfish desire for more nephews and nieces, to play with, to teach, overwhelmed him, since he knew he would not have his own children this season. Shale was a sucker for kids, and while Day's younger brood were entertaining enough, they were growing fast--they would be pretty much adults by spring.

The silver man padded through the snow, the morning sun a comforting warmth on his pelt. He spotted a dark shadow of a woman nearby, long-legged and tall, crouched in the stalking position that marked a wolf on a hunt.

With a small wag of his tail, he set off toward her, making sure he gave her advance aural warning so as to not startle her by his sudden appearance. Shale drew within a few paces and dipped his head in greeting; he'd normally offer a smile, but it was early, and thoughts of pups still itched under his skin.

"You must be our newest member," he murmured. "I'm Shale; Grayday's brother. Welcome."