The Heartwood Never opened myself this way.

A smile broke open the solemn pinch to his features when she said his name. He was weary still, and not even this pleasant surprise could cure that — but he was drawn close enough for conversation by her voice.

"I am he," the panther agreed with a short whisk of his tail. "We are returned from our hunt. I believe he is back in Moontide."

Without him. Dutch knew now more than ever that it was best this way — but he still felt a flutter of indignation over the seal hunter's break from their plans. How precious it would have been to spend a few days close with his family before coming home to sorrow and travesty. He had to worry now about what moonwoman would think, and about the wolves who had looked to Ariadne for leadership, and about the strange shadow girl he still did not quite understand. It gave him little room for grief or anger — and part of him resented that, too.

"You are returning to Moonglow?" he asked, his expression clouding as he looked toward the spine.