Blacktail Deer Plateau he ain't heavy

The male's ears flickered at the change in Shale's voice. Apparently, tragedy had struck many times against the Sameth boys. But he wasn't going to ask about that, and he wasn't going to keep talking about Da, either. There'd be time for all that later on when they'd figured out how to be brothers again.

"There were only three when I left," he replied. Three pups wasn't very many, in Grayday's opinion, even if his own could be a handful sometimes. He wondered if Valette had had a reason other than full ranks to turn Shale away, but quickly dismissed the notion. A lot could happen in a few short weeks. "Either way, I'd be glad to have you. We're brothers." Even after all this time.