King Elk Forest their fortunes for to try

he nodded. we should get some good sleep, aditya replied. and even better if there is no one left here—we'll have the forest to ourselves. if not the protection of an established pack. but he knew from experience that most groups of wolves weren't inclined to dole out favors. 

should they meet someone here today, they would likely have to give back in some way. and he was keen to reach the sea—not so much to pledge his fealty to a pack just yet.

they waited, and no one came. smiling at his daughter, he began to make his way into the woods, flicking an ear toward her in an invitation to follow. looks like luck is on our side, he remarked, breath fogging up before him. it was nice to get out of the snow; he already felt himself relaxing, the muscles of his face easing from the near-constant squint against the stinging flakes. that was one nice thing about forests, the cover. open land was good for certain situations; not so much in a blizzard.

maybe one day, i'll take you to the maplewood, aditya said off-hand, though the casual manner of his speech was accompanied by a sharp sense of longing, tinged with regret. your mother and i loved that place. we lived there for a long time. . .we never should have left.