Mudminnow River One by One

The bracken yearling couldn't help but muster an awkward smile as Luke bumped shoulders with his new pledge. There was something... pleasant about Luke's ceaseless optimism and even though Valtyr was a tough nut to crack, the instant camaraderie he felt with the pale man was refreshing. Too long had he been mistrustful of others. Though this shrewd temperament was unlikely to completely change, the Svejarn could feel a new sense of self on the horizon. 

"Right," Val affirmed with a lopsided grin as he pressed back Luke's coltish shove. Perhaps there was time to make one last trip to the Plateau before his new home came into being. He owed Dante, Osprey, Lasher, and Blue that at least. 

As his thoughts drifted back to Blacktail, he was suddenly stuck trying to think of Mordecai's face. The male must have arrived as Valtyr became distant from the pack's core. "No, not really," he answered, wondering what the others thought of this future split. "But... the Plateau is a good pack," he said, remembering them fondly, "we should hope to be just as successful." 

Suddenly, a school of minnows swam by. Countless silver fish glittering in the rising sun. With his spirits lifted and future looking brighter, Valtyr turned to Luke and asked, "want to try and catch them with me?"