Sabine's smile brightened a little. "I would like that," she said. "I doubt you will be any hassle. Ariel has been wanting to meet you again, too." She almost laughed. "By the way she describes her children, you may need to be prepared for their being enthusiastic to meet new people, but that is all that you will contend with, I think."

From Ariel's steady letters that eventually reached the Silent City, Sabine and the pack learnt of her decision with Rukeewei to try for offspring of their own. The eldest daughter would be six years old by now. The younger two girls, the twins, would be four. The constant work of the war had kept everyone in the pack from seeing them, even Sabine.

"I had actually been thinking to speak to you about a few other things," Sabine continued, her smile fading as she looked to the letters. "It will be nice to do that, as well as just to spend some time."