Swiftcurrent Creek out there

The ghost of a smile flickered across Blue Ridge's face. "I can commit to that, too," he assured the other man, not unused to making such promises. There had been few times he hadn't been able to keep it, and he did not anticipate that something like it would happen here.

"I can stay through the whelping season," he offered, relenting. Where else was he expected? "If the support becomes necessary. I mean to be helpful either way."