Bitterroot Valley subterranean homesick blues

breath taking, yes. his breath was certainly taken by the boy's sudden appearance. the yearling claimed that he was okay, though the sentiment was grotesquely juxtaposed by alsek bursting into tears. surya looked quite distressed at this turn of events, his joy at being out in the open shattered by a sense of sorrow and duty.

we are of the same pack, he explained to the young woman. i know about. . .what happened. but his sister is there; he needs to come home.

and what of her? he smelled other wolves on her—not those of whitebark stream, though. clearly she had a place to go, and could probably take the boy with her. but what was her claim to him? what family did he have left, other than his littermate?

they were attached: that much surya knew. he was loath to separate them, but he didn't see any other choice in the matter.