Hushed Willows invincible

She hadn't anticipated the touch of his snout against her cheek; it was a meaningless gesture, but all the same, the unexpected closeness was startling. Pepper withdrew just an inch, but focused her mind on what he was saying rather than what he was doing.

Well, that's a start. Does anyone within this pack have any friends in high places? Or do you have any alliances set up? If we can get word out to them, we could get help. Maybe exchange information about the area for favors. Ideas rolled hastily off of her tongue, and afterward Pepper had to pause for a breath, but she was still wracking her brain. There are so many missing.. And children, that's... she had no words for that, really, so she went quiet and just shook her head.

The Keep couldn't spare many more wolves, obviously. They couldn't send all the adults out to search for those that were missing, but they couldn't just sit and wait for things to happen. If only we had more bodies to spare.