Sunbeam Lair well, the world might cut you down again, but you know the way back home

His lips curled into the slightest of smiles. This one seemed of good company... intelligent, quiet, strong. They would soon discover how well they would cooperate - though Merrit was hopeful.

As the man drew nearer, Merrit thought he recognized the pack scent on his fur. Mereo? Kallik lived there, and he wondered, not for the first time, how his cousin was doing, whether his wife had yet birthed the children she had been carrying when he had first met her.

Questions for another time. He moved forward after the trail, and began to follow through the valley with his companion by his side, until they would reach a craggy stretch of mountain stone up ahead. The trail was strongest here, and he glanced to the other man before he raised his eyes to see if he might catch sight of the goats against the rock...