Redhawk Caldera malice through the looking-glass

set for tomorrow afternoon.

for the first time, lasher disobeyed the wishes of a leader. after saena had been settled, the pups put to bed, and blue willow had settled into a fitful sleep alongside her patient, lasher had cast himself ghostlike into the night and set out for the caldera. he intended to return to the plateau the following evening, unscathed and hopefully with answers to the questions surrounding fox's vicious and unwarranted attack on saena. dante would be displeased; he might even vent his ire and perhaps strip taltos of his rank, but the earthen servant's mind demanded to be satisfied.

blue willow would wake to find him departed and the pack would know of his trek. in some small way he dreaded returning unto them, but would not allow his trepidation to blight the needed journey.

the sun was directly overhead when lasher emerged in view of the caldera. what had once smitten him with its grand loveliness now skulked beneath a veneer of ugly hatred, and it was with bated breath that lasher drew near the borders, tilting back his crown in a brief and cold summons for peregrine.

having no intention of harm befalling him, and uncaring that perhaps the gesture would deem him a coward, taltos backed fifty paces from the fragrant line to await the possibly murderous approach of his onetime lover.