Swiftcurrent Creek tell the wolves i'm home

The smell of meat roused the yearling much more fully. Bones gave the pair of white wolves a grateful glance, them shamelessly bolted down the proffered morsels. She suspected eating so much so fast might give her a bellyache after months of little food, yet she didn't care. It would be worth it.

The food definitely energized her. Positioning herself like a sphinx, the young she-wolf gazed up at Bazi, eyes shining from her sunken face. "Thank-ye, Bazi, Star. I'll be ready to stand in a minute." Some clean, fresh water to wash down her meal would be perfect.

Bazi wanted to know what they'd done to her. "Me mother made me a slave to punish me for... everything," she answered, her voice light despite her heavy words. "She and the crew, they..." Suddenly, her voice faltered and she looked down at her paws. Although they hadn't been able to break her spirit, Bones still felt vulnerable, ashamed and distressed about the abuse she'd taken these past few months. She hoped Bazi understood the implications so she wouldn't have to relive them.

"But," she continued after a lengthy pause, pale green eyes lifting again, "they couldn't break me!" Bones smiled, her sterling silver tail thumping softly. "And I'm back here to stay, if Cap'n Fox will have me. Me mother and her scouts won't be coming after me again," she added because it was an important detail, complementing the words with a tired sigh of relief.