take apart the counting and the flock it has bred

Their stories had not differed much in all reality. Mordecai was pleased though, that Dante had found somewhere to call home, if even one day they would both return to the long and winding road they had walked for so long. “It's been a trip, I guess,” the tawny Ostrega said with a sigh. “I made good on an offer I received when I first came here, just before I met you. I was living on this mountain here, but then we moved to a little valley to the south. That's where I've been since.” It was hard to believe that in such a short time, so much had changed. Mordecai wasn't so sure that all that much time had really gone by.

“Now I guess you could say that the pack is mine, one way or another. Long story, anyhow.” He offered up a crooked grin, as though that would really answer everything. Still, he didn't mind divulging that he had done well for himself. It was comical, at least he hoped it would be to an outside perspective. No doubt if he were to be talking to Verrine then, Verrine would have not believed a word he had to said at first.