Blacktail Deer Plateau Hibernation

Though Valtýr's change in attitude was sudden and and turbulent like a summer storm, the kind Blue Willow took it in stride. She offered words of encouragement and confirmation which helped the youth perk up a bit despite his choppy emotions. He gave a weak smile, still entrenched in guilt, but feeling more secure in his position as Xi of the Plateau.

Blue Willow explained that Lasher was, indeed, the sire... but Valtýr was having a hard time figuring out just how pack structure worked. Were Blue and Lasher actually the alphas of the pack? Was Dante just a figurehead? The silver titan ruled the Blacktail wolves with such certainty... but where was his wife? His babies? Val was too uncertain to ask, not wanting to mar his reputation with Blue Willow any further. Unlike Pura, Valtýr was probably to sensitive and empathetic for his own good.

"Oh..." Val said, acknowledging the unborn's parentage. "Taltos... will be a good dad." He paused to think. "Is there something I can help with?" the boy offered, wanting a job to do.