“Until I felt confident that the terra indigene who were already there wanted to leave, I wasn’t supposed to say anything.” Vlad stared at the creek. “Sanguinati have ruled the Toland Courtyard since the first humans built houses on the land that became the city. We’ve seen Toland bloat around us, fill itself to bursting with humans. To abandon that Courtyard... It feels wrong. Like you would feel if all the Wolves were driven out of the Northwest and High North.”

“But you didn’t leave because of humans.”

“No, but we won’t be going back there.”

Simon studied his friend. “It makes you sad.”

“Yes. But I like it here, so the loss of Toland doesn’t feel as sharp for me.”

“Why Talulah Falls? Wouldn’t Stavros prefer settling in Hubbney, where the region’s government is located?”

“We’re already strongly established in Hubbney. Many of the Toland Sanguinati will resettle there, but Stavros...”

“His being there would mean a fight for dominance.”

“Not something we need at any time, but especially right now.” Vlad smiled. “Besides, I think Grandfather is doing a little of what humans call matchmaking.”

Simon blinked. Blinked again. “He’s bringing Stavros here to find a mate? Who?” The second he asked, he knew. “Nyx. What does she think about that?”

Vlad shrugged. “Grandfather is providing an opportunity since Nyx has shown no interest in the males here.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want to mate yet.”

Vlad laughed softly. “But it’s good to be available when a female changes her mind.”

Simon growled. “Are we talking about Nyx?”

“Of course.”

“Meg has been very quiet since her visit to the Pony Barn this afternoon.”

“Did Jester say why?”

“He was very quiet too.”

“That’s not good. The Coyote is rarely quiet when he knows something the rest of us don’t.”

“Henry picked up the Elders’ scent on the outskirts of Talulah Falls and on the way home. He thinks they’re just curious, just poking around.”

“He would know better than I would,” Vlad said.

“He thinks we’ll be okay, and humans will be okay. He doesn’t think the Elders are considering extinction anymore.”

“You think he’s wrong?”

“I think I’d like to know why Meg is so quiet.” And why she kept rubbing the right side of her jaw when she thought I wasn’t looking.

CHAPTER 27

CHAPTER 27

Thaisday, Juin 21

Jesse stocked the store shelves with canned soups, tomato sauce and tomato paste, and a variety of canned fruits and vegetables. In the back room, she had big plastic bins that were airtight and mouse-proof. One held five-pound bags of flour; another held bags of sugar, both white and brown; and the third held boxes of pasta that she couldn’t fit on the shelves out front. The fourth she had filled with bags of rice and packages of egg noodles.