Sunrise looked amazing from up here, much more splendorous than on the plateau. Peregrine felt an inner calm as the sky lightened in the east, staining the sky with pastels. The air was cold, particularly at this altitude, and his breath streamed from him in a silvery cloud. It was a sure sign of the coming winter and it reminded Peregrine that there was much left to do.
First things first, though: he needed to find out if Magpie had absconded overnight or if she had decided to stay and confront Fox. Standing, Peregrine picked his way down the slope to the base of the caldera. As soon as his black paws touched even ground, he lifted his muzzle into the air and howled for both his mate and his newest (possible) recruit to come to him for the inevitable meeting.
While he waited, he paid another visit to the cache and ripped the plump, meaty breast from the dead goose. He held this lump of meat in his mouth as he returned to his original position, laying it carefully at his paws. He would give it to Magpie, in exchange for her attendance and her pledge to the caldera.
Magpie had stayed the night, for both she and Peregrine knew that there was no other option if she wanted to live. It sucked to be at the mercy of others like this; her memories of the Corvidae grew more and more distant every day, but she remembered them to be fiercely independent and strong-willed. Her mother would be disappointed; but then, her mother likely thought her long-dead, and at least the juvenile had managed to survive this long on her own. And although the food had helped clear some of the fog, the night had been cold — even colder with her damp fur — and it would be some time before she returned to the vibrant youth she had been when Fox had first taken her in.
She emerged from the makeshift burrow she had dug out for warmth when Peregrine's call rang through the air, sulking the entire way towards him. It didn't exactly surprise her that he had called for Fox as well, and for a moment she had considered testing her fate elsewhere, but the male had given her only two choices, and confronting Fox was only marginally more appealing than death.
When Magpie finally neared, she hesitated before daring to come close, bumping her head underneath his chin — careful to keep her bright gaze from both him and the food — before settling into a dejected position on her haunches a few feet away. She knew what was coming and wasn't happy about it, but she was thankful for his kindness otherwise.
Apologize in advance for being drunk while writing (half of) this.
Peregrine's call, while not unexpected, caught Fox's attention, waking her from a dream about when she had lived back home. That life felt like it did not belong to her, with her sisters and brothers crowding her and play-fighting. Her life now was so much different. She was bound to Peregrine, the voice that had awoken her from the dream. Soon, she knew she would have his children. It was her duty, just as it was her duty to respond to his calls. So when Peregrine's voice called for her, Fox limped along as best as she could, aided by the plants Blue Willow had brought for the pain.
When she arrived, she found the last wolf she expected to see at her doorstep.
“Magpie,” she breathed, barely able to say the name aloud. It took all of her restraint not to barrel over to the girl and make sure everything was fine, but considering how well that had gone over with Bones, Fox held back. She glanced to Peregrine, a multitude of questions behind her eyes, but she knew they could come later.
“I know it doesn't mean much, but I am sorry,” she said, her voice backed by a whine in her throat. She stood a few feet away from the girl who had been her charge, hoping that maybe one day the dark girl could forgive her.
Magpie arrived, earning her a point. She earned another by nudging his chin, which Peregrine received as an Alpha being greeted by a subordinate. He gave her a tight smile, then nudged the meat toward her, making good on his end of the unspoken deal.
When Fox promptly arrived a few moments later, he stepped aside and folded himself into a seated position. He didn't deign to interrupt or interfere, letting Fox and Magpie both say their pieces.
Although Fox was clearly injured, Magpie couldn't help but recoil and posit a more defensive pose. She had hated the Sunspire and had desperately wanted to return to the creek and Fox, but there was so much negativity now tied to that fiery silhouette. Worse, when the juvenile had returned, the she-wolf had abandoned her domain. Her trust completely broken, Magpie had gone in search of the Corvidae — a cause she knew to be hopeless, for they certainly believed her dead and had been months-gone already. In her confusion and rage, the youth hadn't realized she was sentencing herself to death... and it was sheer stubbornness and determination that had kept her alive this long.
The little black wolf barely noticed the meal nudged toward her by Peregrine; indeed, she barely noticed the male at all now that Fox had arrived. She was hungry, but even the pains in her abdomen paled in comparison to the pain that Fox's presence inflicted. Magpie's ears went back at the older female's words, her teeth baring slightly in discomfort as she attempted to sort out her feelings. "You abandoned me," she finally accused, ignoring Fox's apology for the moment. Magpie at least deserved to do this, to tell the fiery woman exactly how she felt. "Twice."
Fox's lip flinched, and she wanted to snarl at Magpie for showing such little grace, considering they would be taking her into the caldera. “Which is why you are welcome here,” replied Fox evenly, her tone calm. “I want to make it up to you, if such a thing is even possible.” Fox wasn't sure that it was, and she would not attempt to explain her reasoning for leaving Magpie when she had. If she'd been capable, wouldn't the younger wolf have done the same thing? Deep down, Fox felt like every wolf valued their own life above others, even if they were not willing to admit it.
The young leader stalled then, waiting for Magpie to either accept or reject her offer. If she wanted to sulk about, that was fine, but Fox did feel a certain sense of wardship over the girl... a feeling she could not quite explain. Perhaps it was because, even now, Mags reminded her of Bones. And Bones was a wolf Fox had failed again and again.
Magpie knew she was being ungrateful, but deep down she truly was; if only because they were saving her from death. Still, if it had been Fox that had found her instead of Peregribe, would things still be this way? Worse, the teenager found she wasn't as mad at Fox nearly as much as she expected to - the older female wasn't giving her much reason to spew the ire she wanted to feel. And as much as that wanted to make her lash out more, frustrated she couldn't dole out the justified anger she had felt those months ago... The little black wolf felt her body relax into submission.
I'd die if I didn't join you; I'm not stupid, she said quietly. Around the fiery adult, it seemed Magpie had a voice - but perhaps it was the months of isolation that made the shy extrovert speak, or perhaps the inexplicable bond she felt towards Fox. I don't want to trust you, not after that, but I don't have a choice if I want to live, her frustration was likely clear. But I'll join, since you're offering, and maybe I'll see you're the leader I thought you were.
A part of her, the part of her that she'd known for so long, wanted to kick Magpie out and let her die. Strangely, though, Fox was beginning to learn a thing called "restraint." It was not the kind that Peregrine held, nor a thing that would always be observed, but it was there. A tool, just like any other. The Redleaf wasn't sure how Magpie had ever seen her as a leader, especially considering she'd been at Swiftcurrent less than a moon's passing, but she did not question. Instead of answering Magpie's insults, Fox gestured for the girl to follow.
“Come on,” she said, wincing as she put a little too much weight on her foot,
“Let’s get you acquainted with the caldera.” Fox flashed a brief glance to
@Peregrine, beckoning him as well. He would be more useful in getting Magpie around, seeing as Fox couldn't move at her usual quick pace.
Peregrine remained silent and motionless through the tense exchange. He understood Magpie's ire, yet her petulant tone made the fur along his ruff prickle nonetheless. It was difficult to hear anyone talking to his mate that way, though he just reminded himself that it wasn't his fight and that Fox would handle it. She actually surprised him too, showing more restraint than usual. He wondered how bad she must feel about the whole thing to behave so docilely.
"We will take you in and help you to survive. In turn, you will respect our rule and contribute in any way you can," Peregrine said evenly when invited back into the conversation. He fell into step beside Fox. "Fox will earn your trust and you will earn your keep." The swarthy Alpha male bobbed his head and then fell silent again as they began to roam the caldera's perimeter.
She didn't intend her words to be as filled with sass, but luckily neither of the adults engaged; perhaps sensing her attitude was born from a multitude of factors... months of isolation, hunger, repeated abandonment. In time, her mind and body would both heal. Fox gestured that she should follow, saying little, and Peregrine spoke as a father might — his last words taking root in Magpie's mind. Trust is earned.
"Thank you," she told them, moving to follow them into the caldera. This time, the gratefulness she felt deep within seeped forth to emphasize her words. They were saving her, and they each knew it. It was not like the Corvidae to settle, but this pair of leaders (or Peregrine, at least) had solidified the youth's loyalty.