❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅❄❅ — Ed Sheeran, I See Fire RUTA WAKES ME early the next morning, reaching out to shake me before realizing Everly is curled by my side. "Oh! Sorry, I could only see your white pelt against the boughs of the bush." "It's fine." I have to fight back a smile as I see how Everly has fallen asleep: paws outstretched, like she's been trying to hang onto me and protect me. "It's probably good that she's here, too. I thought we should hold a leader's conference." I stare at her. "A leader's conference?" "Good morning, fellow leader," I say. "I--"