Bitterroot Valley cauldrons

so taken he was with the vast herds that lestan did not immediately see the stranger. his startlement was clear in the moments to follow, a flinch followed by a chagrined swing of his tail. "h-have you come to s-see the caribou herds too?" he asked, marvelling as he often did now at the steadiness of his own voice.
"i'm m-more used to following d-deer," lestan explained, as dedicated to the yappery as he had always been. "there was a herd around h-here led by a d-doe with blue eyes. she m-must have been killed or died, but her s-son — he t-took over. strong herd, bigger now."
his gaze danced after the caribou, observing one young bull in particular.