"I stood by Topthorn and Friedrich all that day and into the night, leaving them only once to drink briefly at the river. The shelling moved back and forth along the valley, showering grass and earth and trees into the air and leaving behind great craters that smoked as if the earth itself was on fire."
"Topthorn was still ahead of me, his head up, his tail whisking from side to side. I found more strength in my legs and charged after him."
"...cupping his hands to his lips and whistling. It was his owl whistle, the same low, stuttering whistle he had used to call me when we were walking out together back at home..."
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