Big Salmon Lake A thousand years

Valiant huffed out a laugh, just a little uncomfortable. Being winked at flustered him — even though he'd started it — and being thanked was even worse.

"'Course," he said gruffly. And then, as if to refute the words: "It was just a little scouting trip."

But it had been a long one, and Valiant had tried his best to keep the girl safe and to impart all his knowledge. And he'd done it for Raindrop, partially, though he did not like to admit it to himself. Anyway — he was the oldest member of their little pack, now, unless he was much mistaken. It was his job to pass this knowledge on.

The moved around the lake, finding another spot in the sunlight where the bugs were beginning to buzz low over the water. He could see little shadows flitting, and bigger, lazier dark spots lingering in the shallows.

"Here," he suggested, retreating to lay the hide down where he wouldn't get it muddy. "Show me whatcha got." She was the one who'd been living out on the water, after all.