Spotted Eagle Mountain The weak breeze whispers nothing

He let out his breath in a comical way, trying to pass it off as he'd been joking, too. The relief, though, showed plain in the relaxation of his shoulders. He shifted, smiling, listening to Bronco.

And then the questions came to him.

Nah, Killdeer replied. Not the youths. But, uh. . .

His brain swirled for a bit. It was so easy to tell Bronco about his mother and Germanicus, or about Towhee departing for a sister pack. Too, too easy.

But was it his business?

The gears turned in Killdeer's mind, clanked together, then stopped in an altogether neutral place.

I miss you, Dad, he admitted, smiling. Wish you were here. I'm hoping to get into Germanicus's top ranks. What'dya think I should do?