His light eyes narrowed a bit, but Izzy, sensing that Aidan was much smarter than the other two Mì-runach accompanying Éibhear, glanced around and called out for her dog.

“Macsen? Macsen!”

“He’s coming.” Éibhear walked out of the woods.

“What do you mean he’s coming?”

“Give him a second.” He stepped back and she watched as Macsen happily dragged a large bear into the clearing.

“Oh, not again,” Brannie sighed.

Aidan blinked. “Again? How often does he attack bears?”

“He likes bear,” Izzy admitted.

“It came up behind me,” Éibhear explained, “and this one went for him like a bone.”

Brannie pointed at the bear. “Macsen took that down by himself?”

A valid question. Macsen enjoyed challenging bears, but it was usually Izzy or her troops who ended up taking down the bear so that the dog could eat his full.

Éibhear walked closer, leaned in, and whispered, “Not really. I could see the bear was not happy and about to tear the dog apart so I just sort of”—he shrugged—“punched him while the dog wasn’t looking. Bear’s out cold. We should probably go before he wakes up.”

“Why are you whispering?” Brannie whispered.

“Just look at him.” He glanced back at Macsen. “He’s so proud of himself. I couldn’t take that from him.”

Brannie rolled her eyes and walked around her cousin, slinging her pack over her shoulder.

“What?” he asked when Izzy continued to stare at him.