Great Bear Wilderness Reach for the dead

He became so lost in thought that he didn't realize he had company—living company, that is—until someone spoke. Peregrine started, his eyes cutting immediately to the stranger's face. His tail stiffened and his hackles prickled, though he relaxed slightly when he realized he was looking at a young wolf, younger even than his own offspring.

"Valhalla?" he echoed dully, eyes falling to the body. "What's that? Some variation of heaven or something?" he guessed, making no connection between this unfamiliar youngster and Stavanger Bay, nor of course his own long-gone brother. The last time he'd seen Gunnar, after all, he had been a pudgy little squirt.