Tinker decided to return the favor to Warren. She had felt a burr on his leg when she was leaning against him. She held down his paw with her own and proceeded to shred the burr with a quick chewing motion reserved for bad fleas or burrs.<br/><br/>“Yes, Warren, I understand about the cycles. My mother taught me. As Alpha, she had to understand the cycles to keep up with when the females would come into season. Having pups in the wrong time of year would result in pups that died from cold or starvation or both. I have seen four such cycles of seasons. Well, close to the end of my fourth cycle. I will be coming into season soon and I know this because of what my mother taught me. Why?”<br/><br/>Warren was acting so odd. She looked up to see if there was a squirrel in a nearby tree, but all she saw was clouds in  the sky and the naked branches of tree.<br/><br/>“Hold still. This burr is being stubborn about coming out of your fur.”