Duskfire Glacier golden days.

Given his tender age, the nuances of the situation were entirely lost on Veteran. He was utterly bewildered by the question that the stranger addressed to him. The man was the intruder. Why was he questioning Mother?

"..is this here she-wolf a friend as she claims to be?"

"No," Veteran answered, his brow wrinkling in an adorable expression of intense confusion. No, this was not a friend. This was Mother. In his young mind, "friends" were children and mothers were in an entirely different category. 

Veteran could see that the man was speaking to him as he might an adult, and that went a long way to affirm the boy's sense of self-importance. Veteran supposed he was okay, even though he was a stranger and he asked confusing questions. 

Veteran did as his mother bid and toddled over to her-- but only to better protect her from the stranger, of course. He wasn't here for any sentimental affection or closeness or sissy stuff like that.