the centuries fade below my feet

The younger creature did not pull away from Mordecai as he lingered there, nor did he show deference. This may have uncovered a sense of unease for Mordecai, but it remained a mental feeling as he listened to the firm wording. For all his emotion-less expression, it seemed that he understood well enough. Jinx had taken them all to the Spine for that sense of privacy, and Mordecai intended to uphold it for as long and as well as he could.

“Good.” Mordecai's attention shifted beyond them for a moment, eyes tracing the pathways that could have potentially led them to the Spine. Then they came back to the two-toned face of the yearling. “The Spine has need of wolves like you. What's your name?”