Moonsong Glacier Lost in the Shadows

This made sense to Dutch, who would not have asked it if the man all the same. Still, "You are a thoughtful man," he said, the corners of his eyes crinkling in mirth rather than concern for the first time in a few days.

He would certainly come to visit — he still hadn't seen the territory for himself! But for the moment, he was glad to play host to the other man, feeling just a little bit smug about having a territory to show off. He tried to squash this, since it was something he'd had fall into his lap and not something he'd earned, but Alaric was a wolf that Dutch wanted to charm and impress.

"Well enough," he answered with a swishy of his tail. "We are few in number, and our remaining members are very young or... Young at heart." His teeth showed in a brittle smile that seemed to apologize for any possible slight against his packmates; he treasured them despite this. "But we are fed, and so the rest may come in time."

He looked Alaric over, thinking that he looked as whole and hale as the last time Dutch had seen him.

"And you? And the spear?" he asked. Then, gesturing to the bundle: "Is this...?"