Blacktail Deer Plateau The siren's calling

After their botched visit to the plateau, Bones and Ira retreated to a distant spot on the riverbank to rest before making the trek home. The young marauder caught them some fresh fish and they sprawled on the water's edge to enjoy their repast and quietly rehash the visit. As the sun dropped low in the sky, they mutually agreed to camp out there for the night — Bones was particularly exhausted — and set off toward home first thing in the morning.

The two teenagers accidentally slept late and Bones was first to stir the following day. Ira looked so comfortable, she couldn't bring herself to wake him. The silver yearling stepped into the river, splashed some cold water onto her face, then turned and sat. She was prepared to wait for her companion to wake naturally. Yet as she settled with her back to the waterway, her green eyes drifted to the plateau and she saw a figure moving about its outskirts — a familiar figure.

Moving away from Ira so she hopefully wouldn't disturb him, Bones called out to her aunt. "Ahoy! Yerpso!"