Redtail Rise We are close to war.

Riley wasn’t too satisfied with that answer — but before he could press for more information, the keening edge of an elk’s call cut between them.

Like Masque his attention diverted — at least briefly. He studied the direction of the call, noting how it seemed closer now.

Sure. It wasn’t exactly the worst way to spend a morning; watching elk gore themselves to death was as good a pastime as baseball to a cursorial predator. Maybe if we are lucky, we can eat the loser. A grin cracked his usually stoic facade — perhaps the first hint of humor he’d shown to company.