Redsand Canyon days of creation

Colin had noticed Renard, engaged him without a word but with just enough that Finley might have understood he didn’t regard the opposite visitor as a threat—except she’d missed the gesture, whether from late arrival or failure to look at the wolf she addressed.

She did, however, spare Colin a glance at his response. Had Finley really scared him? He sure hadn’t turned to Renard like that. She took his “joke” entirely seriously and heard little reason to the contrary. No enthusiasm; what a pity. Her compliment had been genuine. It seemed he still wasn’t used to sparring—all the more reason then, in Finley’s eyes, to have one.

But they were still being watched. As she approached Colin, head raised, Renard silently prompted a reply; Finley, assuming she still had Colin’s focus, gestured right back at Renard with a point of the snout. “You’ve got company.” Now she could make out his face, complete with that damn smile. Seemed Donovan had some competition. Finley found absolutely none of it amusing.