he nodded. it seemed most were united in dislike and mistrust of fox; he could only wonder at what the caldera would be when she was delivered of her whelps. he was forced to agree with blue willow's observation that peregrine also was operating on animalistic rite, yet the vision of his lover's tear-dappled face swam before him again, and he inhaled somewhat shakily.
"ah," he muttered smilingly to his friend. "i lived in a place i knew only as the glen. it was green, and wooded. we spoke my mother tongue there. for a time i was coddled and loved by the witches, the druid wolves, who had made it their home. and then i became outcast. i wandered. i followed a fierce woman named siku for some time, but she left me. her daughter returned to guide tartok, siku's pack, but she too left us. it was after some time of wandering that i found the plateau, and it is here i plan to die."
lasher found blue willow's eyes with his own. "and you?"