Blacktail Deer Plateau heavy is the head that wears the crown

pride flickered in taltos' heart when he thought of his lovely and hale children. he worried for casmir, but the child had not gone south alone, and he knew the boy would soon return. a slow circle of the borders passed the morning, breath rising in a plume of steam into the early, cold air of dawn. his senses brought to him the inquisitive scent of his son, and without a thought lasher turned his steps inward to meet the swarthy quester.

"constantine," he greeted, bumping the youth's shoulder affectionately with his own before he met the boy's eyes with a smile. "hunting upon this cool day?" he inquired, falling into step with the tall young wolf.