Nepeese was looking about her.

She was smiling.

For a moment her face was turned toward him, and he saw the white shine of her teeth, and her beautiful eyes seemed glowing straight at him.
And then, suddenly, she dropped on her knees and peered under the rock.
Their eyes met.

For at least half a minute there was not a sound.
Nepeese did not move, and her breath came so softly that Baree could not hear it.
Then she said, almost in a whisper: "Baree! Baree! Upi Baree!" It was the first time Baree had heard his name, and there was something so soft and assuring in the sound of it that in spite of himself the dog in him responded to it in a whimper that just reached the Willow's ears.

Slowly she stretched in an arm.