Whitebark Stream We had already scorched the Earth once.

His initial goal in Whitebark had been to build a family there of his choosing, to bring his comrades together and regard one another as such. He aimed to bring kindness and happiness among them, so that he may experience it in return. But things had altered swiftly when Dawn had come to him beneath gentle snowfall with a bold request, one that would change his priorities entirely.

Artyom did not resent her for his veering from the path he'd chosen, and in fact found much appreciation for the opportunity she'd given him. The Alphess had chosen him to sire her litter, him to stand at her side as her partner, and would allow him to play a primary role in the lives of their offspring.

He smiled at Connor, glad for his understanding of the situation he'd found himself in and, ultimately, his forgivenes. It was regarded with a content sweep of his pale tail across the snow at his rear, and he blinked up toward the watercolour heavens once more. "Have you ever seen one like it?" Artyom asked, referring to the sunset. Each time he saw one more beautiful than the last, he would think he'd seen them all until another night, another perfect sky, presented itself to take his breath away.