Swiftcurrent Creek [j] the king and his men

Fox had made it quite clear that the Tortuga wolves had two choices: flee or die. Some of them had chosen the latter, and that was their mistake, not hers. She would not take responsibility for their deaths, nor should those who drew their blood. It was their choice to die, and they had made it. Fox felt no regret for what she had done and the orders she had given. It was the way of the wild, and she would not be made to look weak. Still, they had lost Bones, and she intended to tell Perry about it sooner rather than later. It was only after she had nursed her own minor wounds that she had decided to make the trek toward Blacktail Deer Plateau.

She hadn't taken three steps toward her destination when a call rang out. Fox bristled, if only because she was more fiercely protective of her home now. Her pace was slower than normal, hindered by her bruises and minor lacerations, but she made her way in due time, and came upon Ferdie, Jace, and... “You,” she hissed at the Tortuga wolf, teeth bared and hackles on end. While Fox was usually quick to attack (as this guy knew from witnessing it first hand), he was her only lead to get Bones back.

“Ferdie, Jace, stay close,” she commanded. It was three against one, and Fox would not let this one get away like the two females had. Despite her wariness of him, she subjected him to the same observations as she had Scimitar. Then again, this one was obviously a bit younger. “Explain yourself, or we will kill you.”