Pebble's grin widened until it looked like it might split her face in half. She let Roar keep his death-grip on her wrist, tiny golden eyes narrowed in fierce concentration as if he were personally testing whether this new giant was worthy of his time. The tiny lion's rumbling vibrating up her arm like a miniature earthquake.
"Strong one," she murmured, voice pitched low so it wouldn't startle the others again. "Reminds me of Boulder when we were cubs. Grabbed my ear once and wouldn't let go till the chief threatened to trade him for a sack of honey." She glanced up at Alex, eyes shining. "You did good, Alex. Real good. Four at once. The whole tribe's been betting on how many you'd have. Granite lost. He said three."
