Sun Mote Copse and the mome raths outgrabe

Sugar Glider's cries of "Ook! Ook!" drew Elwood's attention; he had been supervising Avery as she gnawed on a bone he had dug up from a nearby cache. She seemed to be content enough -- and there was at least one other adult present, with both Finley and Eljay calling this den home -- so he turned away from her and padded across the front yard to where Sugar had been digging.

He wasn't the only one to respond to her calls, though. Almost simultaneously, the white wolf that had previously played with Crow materialized from the woodwork and peered down at Sugar. Elwood offered a wave of his tail as he came to stand next to his daughter, first looking down at the dirt she had churned up and then glancing up at the other adult.

She had already been asked what it was that she found, so he did not reiterate the question; instead, he addressed his packmate. "I guess it's time I formally introduce myself -- I'm Elwood," he said, his tone friendly.