Sun Mote Copse Lo/hi.

As Elwood arrived, Wildfire departed. He smiled at her retreating figure, then returned his attention to Towhee, who had moved closer in order to touch his cheek with her nose. The greeting was affectionate but brief, and she asked about the new puppies as soon as she stepped back.

"Foxegrine, Avery, Cathal, and Suaibhseach," he said, his lips forming a smile around each name. "Avery is named for my sister; Cathal has Fin's father's name; and you might be able to guess where we got Foxegrine," he said. Although Towhee hadn't known her parents, they had been Elwood and Finley's closest friends, and it only made sense to honor them this way.

"Fin's doing fine; labor took a lot out of her this time, but she's recuperating," he continued. If there had been any doubts before, he was sure now that this litter was their last. After seeing how difficult delivery was for Finley, he didn't want to take any risks next year when they were even older.