The Heartwood the comedy is that it's serious

If he knew her personally, he would have gently gripped her paw in his teeth. He would have bit down a bit on the veins to see if they would gush again. He did not know her though. It would be too awkward to do. But she did as he asked, earning a look of gratefulness from the man.

"There is not much here" he agrees to her mind without knowing it "and I would not want you to walk far on such an injury. Let me gather what I can. I'll be back." Yet he did not get up, waiting for her permission. He knew some wolves did not like to be left alone.

They were scared of the blood attracting predators. "But you can do something for me while you wait" Holland went on "press your paw into the snow to wash the blood off. Then it will be clean while I wrap it."