Kintla Flatlands sang myself to sleep last night

His relief was palpable — and for this reason, so too was the shift to bashfulness that followed.

"And, uh," he began, clearing his throat: "There's this girl. Vairë. I think maybe there's somethin' between us. She's got some kids from last year — it's her momma's pack we'd be joining."

His ears splayed in quiet embarrassment, but there was a degree of pride in his posture, too. To be considered by Vairë at all felt like an incredible compliment, and it did seem as though she was considering him.

"But there's lots of them," he said. "Brothers and sisters. A whole big family across four different packs."

His eyes shone. He thought Minnow would understand the appeal of this. Their own family had crumbled, alone — but how could so strong a family succumb to the same fate? There would always be some kind of family left.