Tynan smiled then, the first one she'd seen. It cast a gentle glow on his otherwise stern features. "Good enough for me." he said as he turned and led the way to the den.

"I told you you should be nicer to people, Tynan." Adam said as they walked through the dark trees, the pyre's flames though fading, still danced towards the stars.

===

The wolves were wary of the small cook fire Tynan had made in the low den. They lay around the three humans, close and friendly with Tynan and Adam, but distant from Feather, as if they had let her in on sufferance at the request of the druid. The small copper pot bubbled over the fire, as bits of wild carrots, onions and cut wild rabbit meat rose and fell in the rich smelling stew as Tynan stirred it with a wooden spoon.

Adam was on all fours by the fire, watching the pot with excited glee as the puppies wagged their tails and frolicked around him. "It smells so good!" he said excitedly and lifted a finger to dip into the pot. The spoon smacked down lightly on his knuckles and Tynan gave him a stern look.

"How about you get the bread and some bowls?" Tynan asked the boy pointedly. With a pout, Adam rose from beside the fire and went to rummage in the packs stored deeper in the den, the playful pups who had taken to the boy followed along, jumping and yipping delightedly. Tynan smiled up at Feather, who sat disconsolately opposite him, hugging her knees to her chest. "I hope you're not still angry with me?" he said blandly to her. "I'm not very good with people, I'm afraid."