Northstar Vale (M) In memory of Keith.

The first place that came to mind was Redhawk Caldera—not in reply to his question about where she’d pick but as a knee-jerk response to his ideal description. Her face scrunched.

You just described the place where I was born. I lived and led there, then took the pack elsewhere, only to return years later. When I left it this last time, I really made up my mind it would be the last. Besides, Brecheliant lives there now. It’s Eljay’s by birthright as much as it was ever mine.

Realizing she was rambling, Towhee shut her mouth and smiled at Maxim. Man, she was full of recollections lately, wasn’t she? First with Jack, now with her mate. Maybe it was a sign of her advancing age. She was just glad she could remember most of it, albeit vaguely.

I always did love a water feature though, she said a moment later, nosing at Maxim’s ruff. And who doesn’t love trees? Bitches love leaves.