Phoenix Maplewood we drew our heavy revolvers and exultantly killed the gods

Ephraim's gaze drifted away from the two foreign pack wolves eventually—nothing much was happening to cause him to be anxious, so there was no need to remain alertly fixed on them. Even so, he kept one ear cocked in the commander's direction so he could listen to what was said and survey for any change in the atmosphere. Tension could develop in an instant and he would be ready if it did.

They spoke of fire and names he had never heard. For as long as Ephraim had been with Drageda, the wolf they called Furi had been elsewhere, so they'd never met. Per Thuringwethil, she was long gone and no concern of his. Nothing else the two women said meant anything to the boy. Flicking his tail impatiently, the coywolf studied the branches of the trees overhead, doing his best to not look too bored with this pit stop and likely failing at it.