Redhawk Caldera Rats and children follow me out of town

Little Tiarnach seemed to be pleased to have been plucked out of the den by his father, as he writhed playfully between Elwood's legs. Although his eyes weren't open yet, he was already quite expressive, and Elwood watched as Whip examined the puppy carefully. He stumbled over the boy's name, which brought a smile to the Beta's face.

"You can call him Lagan," he said; he was glad that he and Finley had settled on nicknames for the twins, for his own sake as well as that of his packmates. The Gaelic names were becoming more familiar on his tongue, but he was fully aware of how different they were. Whip's next observation, as abrupt as it was, caught the adult off guard and he blinked at the youth.

He gathered his thoughts before responding, knowing that he was about to broach a sensitive subject -- his own son hadn't even accepted the death of Peter. "You're right -- the white spot on his head does kind of look like Peter's," he said, biting his lower lip.