When Peregrine stirred from sleep, he discovered his new homeland rimmed in frost. He rose, his breath forming a white cloud at the tip of his muzzle. He gave his swarthy body a shake, then left his sleeping mate and began walking up toward the caldera's rim. He could patrol, mark and warm up his body, all at the same time.
A light fog clung to the lake. From the ridge line, it looked rather picturesque and spooky all at once. Peregrine appreciated the view a moment, then dropped down the side of the caldera toward its perimeter. Although the sky was cloudy, with no sign of the sun, the frost was already melting. The Alpha male went slowly, not particularly wanting to join Fox as an invalid.
Blue had been unfortunate enough to have to stay a night away from the Plateau. So she woke outside with dew drops clinging to her fur, and a chill in the air. Shaking her fur vigorously she slowly began to pace to allow the warmth to seep back into her extremities, she wasn't overly cold thanks to her fur coat, but it was still chilly. She shifted again and sniffed gently at the ground. There were no extremely heavy scent markers yet, so she stayed away from what she could. After all it maybe a sister pack in Peregrine's eyes, but she wasn't so sure it was in Fox's and even if it was, it was still rude to cross borders.
She sniffed out a game trail, she would need something in her belly before she headed off back towards the Plateau. So grasping the extra wrappings, medicinal herbs and what not that she hadn't given to fox to use she started on the scent trail of what could possibly be a very plump hare.
He kept glancing down at his feet and the patch of ground immediately in front of him. But during one upward glance, he spotted movement and paused, staring. A black wolf was milling along a game trail beyond the caldera's reaches, something in its mouth. From here, he couldn't tell if it was friend or stranger, though the package in the wolf's mouth made him think, Blue Willow? He stared and even sniffed at the air, yet the other canine was too distant.
If it was Blue Willow, what was she doing here? She came to see Fox, he realized, deciding it must definitely be her. He opened his mouth to howl to her, then clapped it shut. She hadn't called for him. She probably didn't want to see him. She probably hadn't wanted to see Fox, either, but he guessed the medic just couldn't help herself around someone in need. A sad, crooked smile appeared on his face.
"Miss you," he breathed into the chilly air, deciding she probably didn't want anything to do with him right now. He remained where he stood, watching her, but did not draw any attention to himself.
OMG right in the feels
Blue continued on her way for a time before her hair rose along her spine and neck. She froze in her movements and looked around, a sixth sense warning her of being watched. She lay the package at her feet, the game trail momentarily forgotten. She lifted her nose and sniffed around, but no scent came to her. So she tried to use her eyes to see it was foggy further up the craggy half mountain, but she could make out shapes. It took her a few tries before her green eyes pin pointed the location of one lurking nearby, but not close enough to smell. She squinted her eyes, but she couldn't tell who it was or how big they were.
Fearful that perhaps it was Fox and she was having more symptoms, blue headed towards it. After all it had been hard for the poor fire girl to howl for her yesterday, so she wouldn't do it today. Besides that the girl was extremely stubborn and may want the help, but not take it. She shook her head, as she grew closer though she noticed it was not Fox, but rather Peregrine and she wasn't exactly happy about it, but she continued forward, to mannerly to just turn now. I thought you were fox for a moment, the fog plays tricks on your eyes. that was all she said as she got closer.
There was a pain in her chest, it was just a small hole figuratively, but it bled emotions profusely. She wondered if eventually it would fill her up and choke her out this sadness and betrayal and hurt she felt. For physical wounds she could fix anything, for the not so physical she couldn't do a darn thing.
Eventually, he began descending again, though he kept a passive eye on his friend's distant figure. He noticed when she stopped and turned back to face the caldera, perhaps sensing his presence. He saw when she began to move toward the mount and quickened his pace. In his haste, he slipped and tumbled the rest of the way down, though luckily it was only a few yards.
"Willow," he said when they simultaneously arrived at the foot of the caldera. He studied the package in her mouth. It appeared empty. Perhaps she'd already seen his mate? Fox had already been resting when he'd come home last night. "I know you probably hate my ass right now but I'm glad you're here. A little surprised too, but then you've always been the most selfless wolf I know."
Blue saw as he started to fall and she rushed forward in fear. Regardless of how she felt or anything about him at the moment he was still her best friend. It wasn't far and she stared at him and spoke rather sharply Are you trying to give me a heart attack Peregrine!
Blue willow frowned and stared at him for a moment thinking of what to say I do not hate you. I think you are being selfish, bias, rude and heart breaking, but I do not hate you, I don't think I could.She shifted her feet and nodded Yes I came to help Fox. I wasn't sure what was wrong, but it sounded serious so, I left some things with her and instructions on how to use it if she wanted. She grew quiet again and looked around, not sure what to say now. She felt like she should turn tail and run, while at the same time she did not like feeling so crossly with her best friend, but it was well deserved.
Although he feared she might reject it, Blue Willow's concern caused him to reach out and offer her a brief nuzzle. He then backed up a few feet to give her her space, black ears all the while tilted toward her to listen to what she had to say. He swallowed when she called him selfish, rude and a plethora of other things, though he didn't try to refute her. It was reassuring to hear she didn't hate him, at least.
"Thank-you for looking out for her, especially considering the circumstances," Peregrine said. "I'm glad you don't hate me, Willow. It would kill me if you did. I'm sorry my decisions hurt you and the others too." He paused and took a breath. His eyes squinted slightly. "No matter what packs we're in or how much geographical distance there is between us, you will always be my very best friend."
Blue did not move when he nuzzled her, she brush her own briefly across his before he backed up. She was not a cold wolf, did not like to be on bad footing with anyone she counted family. She knew disagreements came and went, she would be upset for awhile, she would be hurt for awhile. She would forgive him in the end, she may have already, though she held tight to her anger with both paws.
Blue looked down I can no more ignore an injured wolf than i could not take a breath you know that, but you are welcome. She looked at him Yes Peregrine you hurt me, it hurt me worse that i was not important enough for you to tell me your plans originally, but rather blind sided me along with everyone else. You're children who already feel abandoned, now you have proven to them even if it is not true, that it is true. All because Fox was not happy with us and our home. Perry I stepped down, Igave her what she wanted even though she is rather rash. Yet she still wanted more and you gave it to her at the expense of others. That is what everyone is having a hard time with I believe, though I could be wrong. You just....you handled things badly. her face softened at his next words and she chuckled softly You make it very hard to stay angry with you Perry.
Peregrine swallowed but otherwise remained still and silent as Blue Willow launched into a chiding speech. Although it was never pleasant to be reprimanded, he didn't interrupt her, protest or make any other effort to defend himself. He heard her out, letting her finish before he finally spoke in turn.
"I'm sorry, Willow, there wasn't time to take anyone aside. Too many of you are special to me; it would've taken ages to inform everyone personally and I had to get back here to help Fox. I know it sucked and I really am sorry." He couldn't say that enough. "All the pups but Ty left the plateau. And if my children are old enough to leave me, then I am old enough to leave them. Leaving is not the same as abandoning, in my opinion. And I left her and her sister in good hands, didn't I? Just like their mother did when she left." As far as he knew, nobody had loathed Hawkeye for seeking greener pastures, though he didn't linger on the subject.
Peregrine paused for a few beats to gather his thoughts, then continued, "I'm sorry that everyone's having a hard time but who, if anyone, should matter the most to me but my mate, who will soon be the mother of my children? Yes, we were selfish to do this but I did what was in the best interests of myself, my mate, our relationship and our family. That doesn't mean I don't feel bad for the impact it had on others. I do. I definitely do. I wish there had been a way to make everyone happy. But the thing is," he finished, "you can never please everyone, so you have to do what's best for you. You know?"
His eyes were soft as he regarded her, his head tilted. He hoped that explaining to Blue Willow would help her understand and come to terms with the situation. He didn't want to make excuses — he knew he had not handled things ideally — but he did want to shed some light on the matter.
Blue was not trying to chide, merely explaining her side and the other views of the other pack mates. It wasn't really that Peregrine had done what he did, it was more that he did it without warning and just abandoned them all. He called them all family and basically made them second guess them selves when he just left them all.
Blue listened to him, just as he listened to her. She didn't say anything about it until he spoke about their family. She just said one thing softly We were your family to Perry. that was all she said on the matter and the fact. She didn't know what else to say she was still hurt and upset, but it didn't really matter. Because in the end she could not control anyone and he would do what he wanted anyone regardless of who he hurt. She supposed she couldn't really blame him for wanting ot make his mate happy, but she could blame him for handling it badly.
She nodded her head and then looked around It is beautiful Perry. I will be okay in time. I cannot speak for anyone else though.
"Were? You still are my family," Peregrine answered softly but vehemently. "Just because I left doesn't mean we're not family anymore. You left your parents, didn't you? Every other wolf who lives on the plateau left their parents and families for one reason or another too. Why should making our own way break all ties? For me, it doesn't change anything except that I'm a little further away. I'm still a father and brother to the wolves on the plateau. I still want to visit with all of you. Granted, if I hadn't said as much, I know all of you might have thought otherwise... but I think I made that pretty clear. Fuck my previous views on mingling with other packs. As long as you all are there, I will consider the plateau a sister pack."
Although he thought he might be tempting fate, Peregrine asked, "Would you like a tour? If not today, the invitation's open. I don't want you to be a stranger, Willow. Hell, you could come and live here if you ever decide you want to. I never meant to abandon anyone. If the entire pack had decided to come here too, that would have been fine. I would never try to uproot everyone else for my sake, though. And I'm sorry if it came across like we wanted to leave you all behind because that's just not the case. I meant it when I said it: I love all of you dearly."
Blue frowned as she tried to think of how to say what she meant when she had said they were family. She didn't quite know the words to put it to him, or the way to speak. Blue frowned and she spoke softly And does Fox Consider it a sister pack too? Is she going to let those from the plateau come and traipse among you? I am not being rude or nasty I am merely asking, because she does not seem the type to allow that, regardless if you are family or not.
Blue looked at him for a moment and then shook her head No Perry I do not want a tour right now. I'm afraid I should be getting back. I have to figure out who will lead and who is staying and try and calm down some of our other members. I'm sorry perhaps another time. Blue smiled at him softly for a moment, but the pain in her eyes was apparent. She didn't really know how to handle this whole ordeal, never having been so close to another wolf before other than her parents. My mother was right when she said those closest to us often hurt us the most even with the best of intentions. She grew quiet then again and shifted her weight.
"I will speak with her about it," Peregrine said, acknowledging the validity of his friend's point. "I have done a lot for her, so I don't think it will be a big deal to ask this favor of her." He didn't necessarily want the plateau wolves to go traipsing about the caldera himself, yet they definitely needed to hammer out some terms for visitors from their former home.
"I'm sorry," was all he said in response to her remark about her mother's saying. "You guys will figure it out. I know it all seems overwhelming right now but either you or Dante — or both of you together — will do the plateau just fine. Take care, Willow." He dipped his muzzle to his friend and smiled at her, then waited for her to turn and depart before he set out to begin a patrol.
Blue dipped her head to acknowledge his words. He was right he had done a lot for her, she should allow him this small favor regardless of how she felt about it. Willow did not know how often she would come here, but she would visit at least once or twice. Maybe if she had her own children she would bring them for a visit too. She didn't know where she stood on that precipice either lately.
Blue smiled and nodded Yes we will do fine. If you need anything Perry I am always around. Please don't hesitate to ask. She was upset with him it was true, but she wasn't about to not offer her assistance to him. He was her best friend, and he always would be. She leaned forward and licked the underside of her friends chin, then she turned and trotted down the side of the caldera for home.