"Hell, I wouldn't mind. Can't get them to say word one about anything else when I ask. Except clothes, and most of that is just hash." She smiled, faintly, still staring at the sky. "Used to get stories about the stars. All kinds of wild, fanciful tales. Looked 'em up, years after. Every last one was nonsense, made up on the spot. Still, I like most of them better that the real stories."

Her eyes closed, and she didn't move for a while, face turned up to the sky. "I ain't shared more than a dozen words with another wolf since he died," she said, finally. "Almost didn't say one to you."