Greatwater Lake each morning I get up, I die a little

Murdock padded up beside his brother, tail wagging in idle pleasure. Their trip had been pleasant, thus far, and it was nice to have such quality time to catch up with the boy. They'd be busy, back at Easthollow, but they had time now to shoot the breeze as idly as they pleased.

"What'd that rock ever do to you?" Murdock teased, but as soon as he caught the look on Shale's face, he grew as solemn as the younger male. As dismissive of his siblings as he often was, it hurt the male deeply to see them so forlorn. "What happened, Shale?" he asked quietly, sitting down beside the silver-toned wolf. "Ya can't keep it bottled up. I've seen you agonizing over something since we met in the woods. What's wrong?"