Sh play-bows from under a bench, tongue lolling, but then it all becomes too much and she has to make a charging run after the stick she left lying at the edge of the snow, flinging it into the air and racing around the yard. She's a good dog! This is awesome!

"Japan. To Mount Niri. I... had an old teacher there. He's gone and it's not the same, but it's still beautiful there. I let Kai have a day of shopping in Tokyo, too." He wipes an arm across his brow and sets his tools aside, letting the metal cool for the moment. "You brought beer!"