Blacktail Deer Plateau Mistaken Identity

He shrugged, answering, "We were pretty close, I guess. Especially Day and I, being from the same litter and all. We looked out for each other, right up until he went away." Shale gave Pema a sad smile, remembering that day. "I stayed up for days and nights, days and nights, waiting for him to come back. He never did."

Something about that reminded him of another brother, and he flicked an ear, wondering. "When did you run into Murdock?" he asked, his tone curious. "You two have been acquainted before."

He felt bad for her, honestly. Not because he thought she couldn't hold her own--on the contrary, this woman had a the quiet strength to toss Murdock around like he was nothing. But his older brother was a pain in the ass, and he really didn't wish him on his worst enemy, much less sweet Pema.