Moonspear blinking in the starlight

Predictably, Katmai was moved by what little of Kira's story that he learned. He thought of Kinusi and Leonore, Treepie and Tikaani. Everyone seemed to be missing family in large swathes.

"Then you should stay," he said easily, "And see if you find your place here."

His own smile was sad. Troubled.

"Many wolves in this place seem to have lost family," he told her, turning his head to look out over the valley. "It is very strange. When I was younger, these lands were full of packs and villages. Now there are very few. And our village in particular is made up of wolves all the same age as you and I. We only have two elders among us."

It worried him, but he didn't want to bring down the mood.

"Tell me about yourself, Kira," he suggested. "Are you a singer? A dancer? A teller of tales?"

His priorities, clearly, were different from Kindle's.