Lost Creek Hollow there is black coal filling up our homes

"I would appreciate that," he murmured as she mentioned that she would let them know when she would leave. That tended to make things easier, if only whether or not they knew when to be expecting her back within the territory. But of course, that was how they had always arranged things with the wolves that joined them — it was much easier to accept them leaving, whether temporarily or permanently, so long as they at least had the common decency to mention it. But there were those within their fold that had not done the same, and those frankly were not wolves he had interest in seeing again.

But Root seemed to have a good head on her shoulders, so to speak. He rejoined her parting statement with a bob of his scarred head; it was also good to have made her acquaintance as well. It doubled over as a dismissal of sorts too, because he slowly rose to offer her a wave of his tail, turning himself back towards his temporary lodging. For as much as he desired to stay out in the open, it wasn't practical with the way the cold currently teased at still healing wounds.

And so the duo parted for the time being.