Blacktail Deer Plateau The forgotten

"OSPREY, NO—!" Peregrine bellowed at the top of his lungs as she made to tackle Saēna. His paw shot out, intending to shove her forcefully away from the choking girl, terrified that Junior's interference would make everything much worse.

Before he could intervene, however, Osprey Jr. made contact, Saēna went down and the rock came sailing out of her mouth to nail Junior directly in the forehead. She dropped like a sack of potatoes, leaving Peregrine reeling. A moment ago, it had been Saēna who'd been in danger and now she was fine and it was young Osprey who'd fallen (after serendipitous saving her cousling's life!).

"Osprey? Osprey?" Peregrine questioned in a high-pitched voice. He looked at Saēna, who appeared to be none the worse for wear despite her episode, then very gently nudged his unconscious daughter. "Wake up, lil' girl... please wake up..." He licked her head. There was no blood, at least, though he could feel a lump forming between Osprey's eyes.

After what seemed like an eternity (but which was actually no more than three or four minutes), Junior began to come around. She twitched faintly, then groaned. Her eyelids fluttered and opened halfway. "Ooooogh," she muttered as she tried to sit up. Dizziness struck her like a tsunami and she bobbed and weaved like a drunk.

A shaky, relieved laugh burst from Peregrine's muzzle as he gently nosed his woozy daughter. "Oh, man..." he breathed as he gathered her gently with one foreleg. He used the other to wrap around Saēna and drag her close too. "That was a great shot, Saē. I give it a 10/10. Ho-ly shee-it. I'm glad you're both okay." And he clutched them to himself and snuggled them, fighting an urge to weep as his body quivered like boneless mush.