The collie had been on a dire road following the tidal wave of deaths that had assailed his love ones. They had fallen, one by one, to the rutheless fangs of the wolves and wild kin. If it had not been for Shimmer's surprising return, the collie might have turned to darker ways. He'd never have betrayed his friends or masters, but he would no longer have held an allegience to others.

As it was, Timber's ray of hope had returned to him. With Shimmer's coming, a question had lingered on his mind and he could not figure out what had brought it there in the first place. But he simply couldn't ignore this question... he needed to talk to Shimmer.