Blacktail Deer Plateau Poppied Up

The male knew at once that something was going on. Pema wouldn't stand at the borders and call for him if she was just coming home after a short trip, or even if she'd brought along a friend or a joiner. There must be something she wasn't sure about - but at least she didn't sound frightened. Still, Grayday made haste to the borders, sending the kids back the way they'd come when they tried to follow along.

"Pema," he greeted when he reached the borders. She smelled strongly of Shale and one other, namless wolf, and faintly of healing herbs. "Who've you brought?" he asked, his head turning blindling toward the scent of the other. He'd not noticed her at first, but as the breeze shifted, he realized they were not alone. Here was the wolf whose scent she carried, and in the girl's scent, the male detected fear, blood, sex. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end at this combination, but his body language remained largely docile.