Getting to the "meat" of the story, yuck, yuck.

I already had most of the contents of the fifth and sixth chapters written.  Originally, they were to be the 'flashback' chapters in Wolflander, but I loved the idea so much that I extracted them and encased them in a whole new story.

I'm about 12,000 words in, and getting very close to the desperate times.  It will be cold and hunger -- and werewolves -- from here on.

I'll have a few chapters with James Reed in California trying to raise support for a rescue mission.  Appealing to John C. Fremont, taking part in the Battle of Santa Clara (all true.)

Also have a viewpoint character in Charles Stanton, who also made it over the mountains but bravely went back.

But mostly:  Cold.  Hunger.  Werewolves.