Blacktail Deer Plateau i was lightning, before the thunder

Day paled under his fur at the talk of war and evil. He never thought he'd see something like this, and the very idea that it was happening on his doorstep was almost more than he could comprehend. If he did not have so much faith in these three, he might not have believed them.

But he did have faith. "If war comes this way, we will leave," he said resolutely. "I like the plateau, but no land is worth our safety. Besides, we are adaptable. If the gods wanted us to stay in one place, he would have made us trees."

He shot Aditya an unimpressed look when he asked what the intruder had looked like. Obviously, Grayday wasn't the best one to ask about these things. "I'm fairly certain she was a loner, just looking to nab a meal. But you're right - challenge anyone who's missing a tail. Cat and I took hers before she fled."

He looked between the three for a moment, terrified to know that he'd sent them into danger even though they were already home and safe. "You've done well. Rest and recover," he said to Pema and Aditya. "Dawn - will you take a short walk with me?"