Emberflame Ridge Champagne and rolled-up notes.

Since the attack that splintered his family, Elysium was quiet. At times, painfully so.

He'd been reluctant to ask his mothers to venture someplace new with him, introduce him to new sights and allow him the opportunity to sample their local territory. Sundance spent weeks trying to find the confidence to break that uncomfortable silence, request that Olive forgive herself for what happened to Ariel, but he absolutely did not wish to see her sad.

When finally the boy gently made his request, she of course agreed to accompany him. She chose the destination and her son followed willingly, wondering why he'd been so fearful of asking for such a long time. He loped along behind her with an enthusiastic stride; if Olive was reluctant or sorrowful that day, she did a good job masking it.

The evening was comfortable, and a cool breeze swept over the ridge as the she-wolf and her cub meandered through its fiery foliage. Sundance pressed on ahead, nose to the ground and white-tipped tail lashing excitedly at his backside as he padded carefully after a large black beetle.