Redtail Rise feuersturm

Two days. It wasn't a long time in the scheme of things, but boy did those two days feel like an insurmountable length of time to Stag. They were already roadworn, and caring after the puppies as they moved was especially tiring. Stag couldn't wait until the night he could lay his head on the pine needles and really sleep.

Pulled from such wishful thinking by the watchful eye of Mahler, Stag followed the general's gesture and shook out his laden ruff. A similar sigh pressed from his lips as he was tasked with thinking. He trusted Mahler -- and Wylla -- to do the heavy-weight lifting when it came to critical thought. Often he felt he was too young and experienced to make a good judgment call, and dreaded giving Mahler the wrong answer. It was too bad about the stream, but he agreed that it seemed safest to be on high ground.

"Do you think an ally would actually help us? We didn't ever need one before, did we?"