Children’s minds worked differently than adults it would seem. Not that Soljor minded. Every time he talked with his girls, he learned a little more about them. They were young. Such observations about the differences between otters and squirrels was one example. It made him smile as she leaned against him. She mentions CUA’s scars. Soljor thinks for a second, looking down at his own.

“It’s possible,” Soljor said. “But scars are not bad things, despite being ugly. They are reminders of what we survived, what we’ve learned. They are lessons we can use to tell others.” He nuzzled Harlequin. “If you want to know what happened to your mother, maybe you should ask her. Perhaps she’ll tell you.”

It was a good time for a lesson. He didn’t doubt CUA would also be instructing Harlequin in various things. He admitted, he’d noticed the scars on CUA but he’d never asked about them. Not that CUA and him talked very much until this latest season. Then his ears twitched. He pulled his head up abruptly as Harlequin mentioned meeting a boy with a wolf following around.

“Where did you meet this… boy?” Soljor asked. Had she left the Bay? Was such a kid in the Inlet? Or… had she braved the oceans on her own.