Big Salmon Lake The wreckoning.

“Mom, she’s good,” Alivia said, untwisting a small knot deep in the pit of Towhee’s stomach. It only gnarled again a beat later when the pale she-wolf began stuttering. A wave of apprehension crashed through her seconds before Alivia admitted, “Actually, she’s gone.”

When she’d said goodbye to Ruenna more than two years ago, Towhee had known she likely wouldn’t ever see her again. Still, hearing that a reunion was now impossible—that her friend was no longer part of this world, however distantly placed—left her feeling hollow. She sagged to a sit, as if her legs could no longer hold up her weight.

Judging by the look on her face, the loss had been brutal for Alivia. Towhee’s heart went out to her, even as it broke for herself. Rue had been her best friend at one point. Losing her had been just as hard as losing a member of her family. The Redhawk would grieve Rue all over again.

I’m—fuck, Towhee rasped. I’m really sorry to hear that, she said, the tears pouring down her face offsetting the otherwise hackneyed phrase.

For a moment, she couldn’t manage anything else. Towhee couldn’t even look at Alivia’s face, otherwise she would never be able to collect herself. And she tried to do that, wiping at her own face and taking deep, sniffling breaths.

When she felt capable, she said, I want to hear all about her last couple years. Not today, but… would you come back to the caldera with me, Alivia? To stay?