Blacktail Deer Plateau he ain't heavy

He nodded, knowing Grayday's words to be true. Their family was massive; their parents would not have been alone in death. Still, the weight of personal failure lingered, creeping and crawling at the back of his mind until Shale smashed it, pushing it angrily aside.

"I do, too," he responded, his voice suddenly thick. "And Ma, and everyone else by the river. I didn't, for a while, after I left. But when I lost. . ." He cut off suddenly, stopping himself and shaking his head. "Anyway. Yeah, I dream of him, too."

Shale's heart lightened considerably when Grayday extended the offer to stay, thanking the gods above that his littermate's pack had room for him. "I would love to, if you'll have me," he said gratefully, smiling. "I asked to stay at Easthollow, but they're full up. Lots of pups to feed, apparently." He thought of Mur's, well, interesting relationship with the alpha female and her children, and grinned wider.