Swiftcurrent Creek and mistress of the snow

"OK," Star responded flatly. Nothing in her voice or bearing indicated that she cared either way that her packmate had returned safely, but Bazi took no offense - Star was a little disconnected, and always had been.

The tiny wolf was a bit of an enigma, showing nothing of herself apart from the very obvious, burning desire to prove something - to transcend herself, and become something greater. The physical aspect of that struggle wasn't something that Bazi shared, but she had some inkling of what it felt like to be too big for your shoes.

"Not good," she shared with a sorrowful shake of her head, moving past Star and motioning for the smaller wolf to follow. It was cold, and she didn't want her leg to seize up. "There were lynxes where they settled - or bobcats, I can't remember. They made off with one of the pups, Tuwawi followed, two of the other pups followed and disappeared.. there's only Njal, now. And Meara. It's a mess - I nearly invited them back, but they would never come. I can't even imagine how awful it must be for that poor man.. can you?" To Bazi's memory, Star wasn't the kind of wolf that shared unless prompted.