Phoenix Maplewood the old wolf remembers

The elderly one took her place as their leader and began to speak. Her voice bore the ravages of time; her words, like broken glass. After exchanging pleasantries, Reek responded with a polite nod. However, her next words sent Reek through a loop. "Shreya," he whispered. Her name had been of little significance growing up, but still Reek was familiar with the name of the grandmother that he had previously presumed dead.

Her request to join the pack fell on ears unresponsive. Reek's brow furrowed into neat little lines and his jaw hung slightly slack in the wake of this surprise. "Shreya Carrow-Finch," he repeated once more in disbelief. If this was truly her, she must have been absolutely ancient — thus clinging to life by a thread of sheer willpower.

Reek shook his head and attempted to regain his bearings. "Do the names Adric and Cato Finch mean anything to you?" he asked. While her full name had been enough to prove her identity in Reek's eyes, he still wanted that last bit of extra assurance.