Nova Peak Akiani

She shook her head at his own question, not bothering to elaborate out loud. Meerkat had never once set her sights on leadership. She respected those who did, because she knew how much such a role required. But that wasn't what she wanted to do with her life. No, she was happier being somewhere in the middle of the pack, left to her own devices as far as vocations.

Issorartuyok mentioned seeking "lands of ice," which had Meerkat pondering the glacier again. But what if he liked the territory but not the wolf who led it? Would he try to take it from Wintersbane? And the rest of them? Suddenly, her imagination was running wild. She tapped the brakes and took a breath.

"Anywhere should suit, come winter," Meerkat said, pausing thoughtfully for a moment before continuing, "I've traveled the Teekons a lot. And I'd say your best bet is a mountain like this one, only larger. Many of them have ice and snow at their peaks all year round. And I think..." She paused again. "There's an ice field near the coast. It might actually be glacier, I'm not sure. It's due south of Yuèló—uh, Wheeling Gull Isle. A couple miles inland."