Words! Dog-words, but words all the same. Ko-Ga fluffed up his feathers in excited satisfaction to be acknowledged. He decided he liked this one.

Yes, he knew where they were. In the place by the stream, only a few hours of dog-stepping to the snow line. He knew about the mountains nearby, and the ice-lake where the other dogs roamed wild on open plain. He knew this was not the place he had lived before, and there was magic in it, because birds knew things. And among birds, he fancied that he knew even more things than most.

Like dog words.

But Ko-Ga hadn't found the right time to prank Nate-Dog yet with his newfound skill to speak them, and didn't want this one to spoil the surprise. So instead only replied, AAA AAA aaa! And hopped from his branch to glide down close to the stranger. Aa!

His head tilted, curious. He hopped closer.

Nate-Dog would be here soon, but Ko-Ga felt no need to wait before investigating.