Sleepy Fox Hollow spaziergang

the yipping and ululations unnerved mahler, but no more than they would another wolf. he knew that his response was due to the fact that he and emmerich had culled a full coyote, and he had killed more himself. there was a latent distrust in him.
but dusty rose had done nothing to invite it. in fact, he was perfectly aware of his place and helped to put a scent-mark along the borders. "it is german," mahler answered, inspecting a pile of elk dung which he had not expected to see. "i vas born knowing it, and i have taught it to my children."
but there was something here, some gleam in his eye that suggested mischief. "i could teach you also." the man's broad paws trampled a tuft of lavender and he began to dig around it, separating it from the earth. 
he turned truly now, to inspect the young wolf. he wanted to know if their kind had raised the boy, or if it had been coyotes. but mahler did not ask, aware of how perturbing this might be. "i could teach you the song as vell."
his craggy face warmed with a soft smile.