Swiftcurrent Creek my name in your mouth, that was all it took

Big Fred, he repeated. He sounds intimidating.

Cambria meant to say something more, though the girl began moving toward him. He fell silent and very still, as if afraid any sort of sound or movement might spook her. Only his facial muscles moved, rearranging into what he hoped was an encouraging smile.

Only after she’d paused to take in his scent did he speak again to say, Suzu is your maman, right? The French word came out sounding very clunky, so Cambria fully expected her to make fun. Are you Caliste? Or maybe Leonore? he said in the next breath, dredging up the list of names from memory.

She could be Saturin, he supposed, but he’d picked the two most feminine names. He knew there were two boys and two girls and that obviously Requin was one of the former. The yearling chewed at his lip as thoughts of the missing pup crossed his mind again. Maybe he would soon ask after him.