Heron Lake Plateau the world grows older every day.

He snorted as she cozied up next to him and reminded him of exactly how their relationship had started all those years ago. What had just been a playful first interaction had blossomed into a wonderful marriage, including raising a buttload of children and leading the pack together for a time. "Rrrrr," he replied in his best impression of a bear, reprising the role that had initially won Finley's heart.

"It's also the day you nicknamed me Twig," he reminded her with a thoughtful twitch of his left ear. "You made fun of my name, but now we have an Elwood Junior of our own," he chuckled.