Wolf RPG

Although he was glad to be catching up with old friends and whatnot, Peregrine was by now nearly agonizing to go home. When he caught the mountain out of the corner of his eye and stopped to think back on his recent conversation with Bindi, he couldn't help but redirect his path again, one last time. After this, he would be running all the way home. Woe to anything or anyone that got in his way.

Hanging well back from the borders, Peregrine lifted his muzzle into the air and howled, calling for @FitzDutiful. He tried to imagine Duty's face when he heard Peregrine's voice raising at his borders. The Redleaf-DiSarinno smirked, then took a seat and tried to be patient and ignore the itching in his feet.

FitzDutiful was ready to finally leave the mountain. Now that Bindi had stepped up to the Beta role and Raissa was firmly out of heat with little babies developing, he felt like it was finally time to head out and meet his neighbouring packs. Or he could return to the Caldera.

Those thoughts were all echoing inside his head when, as if called via telepathy, Peregrine called. Momentarily shocked it took a moment for the Alpha of the Mountain to respond that he was on his way. It had been a while since FitzDuitful had last made a decision based on what he felt Peregrine would do, he was beginning to feel more sure that his decisions were right but it was a splendid thing to be able to show his previous alpha what he had accomplished. It was more than he had ever hoped for Peregrine had never ranged far before.

Approaching Peregrine, FitzDuitful couldn't stop the joy from emerging. "Hi!!!" he exclaimed loudly, greeting Peregrine physically with half the joy the felt. If it had been everything it would have been highly inappropriate. He almost fell to a submissive pose before he caught himself, they were equals now!

"I never thought to see you here. I was debating journeying down to the Caldera to see how you all were now we're looking a bit stabler!"

The mountain's Alpha called back and that gave Peregrine some measure of relief. He wouldn't get stuck waiting here all day. Then again, if Duty hadn't responded, he honestly wouldn't have hung around for more than five or ten minutes. What if he was away so long his children didn't recognize him when he finally got back? It was a silly thought, yet Peregrine hated that he was missing some of their first sighted days. Fox was probably going to chew him out too, for being gone so long...

Duty popped into view and Peregrine rose, tail wagging, to greet his old comrade. "It's good to see you, Duty. I heard your pack's doing pretty well, from your Beta, Bindi," he shared before taking a seat again. He tried to ignore the metaphorical fire under his ass. "Tell me all about your little upstart," he requested, chuckling because there was nothing little about this mountain.

"Everything happened so quickly!" He said, trying to remember the exact time lines. "It was surreal. We left the Caldera, came to the Hot Springs and came across Tempest who offered to join us and then I met Bindi who wanted to stay and before I could blink we were all set up! Me and three females!" he laughed.

FitzDutiful had never been particularly good around the opposite sex, not when he liked them in that way. Then again, at the time he hadn't. He had liked Bindi's looks but then, what man could resist? "Shortly after, we got some males in and we seem pretty sorted! We've got a few that seem unsure if they're staying or going but... I understand now, you can't be upset about everyone that leaves - especially so soon after joining."

"How are you, Fox and the Caldera doing?" In some ways he seriously missed the Caldera. In other ways he couldn't imagine being under another wolf's command any more. He was made to rule - or so he felt on the honeymoon period of his command.

When Duty mentioned Tempest, Peregrine's eyes narrowed. He didn't get a chance to say anything about her, though that was just as well. Duty could have her flaky, disoyal ass. He seemed pleased as punch and the swarthy male had no desire to rain on his parade with his crabby old vendettas anyway.

"Hey, man, I'm glad to hear it," the visiting Alpha said, reaching out to clap Duty's shoulder. Are you aware your Beta has it out for your mate and pups? he asked in his head, though for the moment, he didn't mention the things Bindi had had to say about FitzDutiful's lady.

"Oh, great. I actually told Bindi to tell you this but we had our litter: one boy and two girls." He realized now that, aside from those who'd been there to personally experience the loss, he wouldn't be mentioning his firstborn son to outsiders. It wasn't that he wanted to forget "Derp," he just didn't feel like getting into that dark, sad subject with just anyone, especially not repeatedly. "Nightjar, Wildfire and... uh, the littlest girl is still nameless for now."

He smiled, paused and said, "I heard you and Raissa are expecting too?"

"You've met Bindi already! She's really something, isn't she?" FitzDutiful couldn't help but gush. His admiration for his beta must have been obvious to anyone in earshot at that moment, one could only hope that his attraction wasn't too clear. He made great pains to barely mention Bindi to Raissa in case she found onto his dark secret. They were having pups, that was happy, happy news. But Bindi was so... unpredictable and yet not. Raissa was his mate, Raissa was who he was loyal to.

"Yes we are!" His enthusiasm lacked a little there. "It was all Raissa wanted, she didn't care for rank or title and after giving me so much it was the least I could do for her. It'll be nice having a little prince or princess to raise." FitzDuitful was curious as to how long it had been since the pups had been born. It seemed so long ago that Fox had announced she was pregnant to the group and yet, time had passed so quickly since they had left.

"I can only hope to be as good a parent as you are to yours. How old are they now?"

Uh, yeah, Peregrine thought in response to Duty's question about Bindi, though he let that topic go in favor of the pups. He unknowingly answered another of his visitor's questions; he really had been curious about Raissa's rank, even though it was none of his business. Well, at least he wouldn't have to actively ask about it now.

"Just one or the other?" he asked, quirking a brow, his tone teasing. He scoffed at Duty's comment. "Ask my older kids if I'm a good parent. But I do try to be," he said. "Their eyes are just opening. Actually, that's why you'll excuse me if I take off in a few minutes. I don't want to miss anything, you know? I mean, you'll know soon enough."

Now he circled back. "About that Bindi... are you aware how much she loathes your girl? She was rather free and open with her opinion of Raissa," he reported, looking at FitzDutiful shrewdly.

Their eyes were opening... how old was that?! FitzDutiful didn't have a clue what age eyes began to open, he hadn't even know how long they cooked in the oven for. Despite that, it seemed Peregrine wanted to keep the topic on Silvertip Mountain though FitzDutiful had managed to sneak in an "I understand." to Perry's leaving in a few minutes.

Apparently he felt a need to tell Peregrine that Bindi had it out for Raissa. "Neither one of them has come to tell me they have a problem with the other. Not openly nor hidden intent as far as I've been able to tell." It came out more curt than he had intended. Fitz looked remorseful and carried on with a much softer tone. "I made Bindi my beta because, despite not being sure she could settle in one place when she helped found the pack, she has done nothing but prove herself day in and day out. I would have liked Raissa to lead by my side but it wasn't what she wanted for herself. With pups on the way I really needed help in the leadership and Bindi was my first and only choice." He sighed a little, definitely not understanding the full extent of the bad blood between the two main females in his life.

"They've managed to avoid injuring each other, even during a spar, so I have faith that I can mediate between them if it comes to it." With a wry smile he continued that line of thought. "I am a counsellor, after all." There was nothing he couldn't handle. FitzDutiful was super-wolf in his mind - at the moment.

FitzDutiful seemed defensive at first and Peregrine was about to back off, insisting it was none of his business, when his fellow Alpha continued, confiding in him. Perhaps Peregrine could lend some insights. He listened carefully, hoping Duty's take on the matter would make more sense to him than Bindi's.

"It sounds like the ranks aren't even an issue between them, so you need to figure out what is," the swarthy wolf opined. "I'm sure some mediation will help. I'd get on that. There's nothing like interpersonal drama to drag down the entire pack. Take it from me, as we've had our fair share at the caldera lately," he said with pursed lips.

After a moment, Peregrine continued. "Bindi said she thinks Raissa doesn't deserve the joy of motherhood. I don't know her or whether she could be a danger to your mate or pups. But I thought you ought to know what your second-in-command is saying about your woman to people on the street." He stopped there, looking into Duty's face, trying to gauge his reaction to this information.

"It's none of my business," Peregrine concluded, "but if you ever need help or advice, you know where I live." He tapped his tail twice, then fell still. He had checked in on Duty, exchanged news and information and soon it would be time to head home to those pups! But he wasn't going to rush off if FitzDutiful had anything else he wanted to discuss.

If FitzDutiful had failed to realise the danger before, Peregrine had made it land as sure as had FitzDutiful fallen through a pit into hell. The fire whooshed around him and made him wonder how he had failed to miss such a crucial interpersonal issue. He was silent for a while, trying to process what was happening. The mother of his children being verbally abused to outsiders... That was the hard part. It was all well and good that it was Peregrine but what if it had been a Blackfeather swine? Bane had warned him that nothing good could come of Raissa but this was surely not what he had meant. FitzDutiful had just assumed Bane had meant that she would find another.

"Bindi wouldn't hurt the pups but I... I suppose I should talk to them both. It doesn't send a good message for the beta to be mouthing off against a member of the pack to outsiders. I'm lucky it was you. I know you need to be getting back, I need to think on this. Expect a visit if my own trade fails me!" FitzDutiful's mind was reeling. He was worried about Bindi leaving if she wasn't happy here and FitzDutiful wasn't sure how he would cope if that came to pass. She was a sturdy rock on this mountain that could threaten an avalanche to drown them all in snow if she fell.

He waited for Peregrine to take his leave, constantly lost in thought, before heading back to his secret thinking place. He had to figure out how to approach this delicately.

No, it doesn't, Peregrine silently agreed with the conclusions Duty was drawing. Aloud, he replied, "I'm no Counselor but... maybe talk to each of them separately, then get the three of you together to work it out. You don't want those pups coming into a drama shitstorm," he said with a well-meaning smile. He was sure FitzDutiful could get his subordinates sorted out in time.

"Yep, my borders are open to you," the visitor said, nudging Duty's shoulder. "You'll work it out," he said optimistically, then waved his tail and turned. It was a shame he couldn't linger longer and spend more time catching up with his friend but they both had things that needed their attention.

Namely, he had some new eyeballs in his life. With this thought drifting through his head (and eliciting an excited little burble of a laugh to burst from him), Peregrine hasted his step back toward home.