Blacktail Deer Plateau We will welcome summer's ghost

Peregrine's dusky eyes flicked to his friend, then slowly scanned the forest as he continued to listen for several minutes. The cacophony seemed to ebb and flow, gentle susurrations of sound. He knew that, in just a few weeks, the woods would grow chill and quiet with the onset of autumn. These were summer's last symphonies until the spring thaw.

The Alpha eventually tipped his snout into the air and let out a low howl, which didn't carry far. The insects fell quiet, though only for a few beats, then began singing again. His lips twitched.

"I guess they didn't like my solo," he observed to his companion. "Goodbye summer. Hello autumn." Peregrine sighed, then turned to Blue Willow more fully and said, "Time to head to bed. I'll see you on the flip side." With a gentle parting smile, he slipped past her, in the direction of somewhere warm to sleep.