Redhawk Caldera Two large gulps of free-range oxygen

Although Peregrine felt a lingering sadness over the pack's loss (the first of its kind), he did not actively mourn for long. There were borders to be patrolled, game to be hunted and, soon, pups to be raised! Until they arrived, he would dote on their mother. Fox still wasn't feeling well, though he noticed she could manage small meals, so Peregrine tried to bring fresh prey to the den on a daily basis to settle her stomach.

Today's catch was a large rodent of some sort; he wasn't sure of specifics. With its plump little body clasped in his jaws, Peregrine loped uphill toward their den near the caldera's rim. He was getting close when he heard a strange sound above him, of all things. The Alpha stopped and glanced up at the vast blue sky, only for something (a hungry and daring bird of prey) to collide suddenly with his head.

Startled and bewildered, Peregrine dropped his small kill. The raptor was quick to drop on top of the rodent, then wing back into the blue winter sky with the small carcass clutched in its talons. The black wolf could only stare after it, utterly nonplussed by what had just happened. Had a bird literally dropped out of the sky and stolen his mate's intended meal right out of his damn mouth? And had it actually been a fucking peregrine falcon, of all things?