osprey junior had returned, and the buoyant attitude of the plateau had been restored. lasher had quickly intended to bring the girl beautiful things, to restore whatever spirit had been taken from her in her absence. perhaps the other children of the blacktail wolves would mend, and life would move on as nature intended. his thoughts lingered often on peregrine, and he felt a stirring of his heart, for he fully loved the panther now.

orange blooms hung from his muzzle, and sunset-hued petals were caught in his ruff as taltos' ears swung forward in heed of peregrine's summons. he did not drop his well-searched-for flowers, however; they accompanied him with a light, tangy fragrance to the site where the sable devil stood with a fireflare lasher recognized immediately.

peregrine, the earthen delta murmured, once he had laid down his burden. murky eyes lingered on peregrine's handsome face for a fleeting moment before lasher turned his attention to the ruby at his side. i did not have the pleasure of your name last time, he said softly, a bright smile lighting his face. taltos was no fool; the inclination of their bodies held an obvious undertone. however, the expression upon his lover's face delighted his heart; if this woman brought peregrine happiness, she was a blessing indeed.

fox. it certainly suited her small frame and ruddy colour. in response to peregrine's mention of the flowers, lasher nudged them toward the pair. i suppose much of my summer has been consumed with gardening, the delta chuckled in a mildly self-deprecating manner. of course it had also been filled with other things, but he would leave the alpha male to inform fox of those details, if he so chose.

yes, he lilted, turning his soft gaze on the devil with a single wave of his plume. we met and played like children for a time, and dozed on the earth. it was a good counterpoint to the otherwise demanding lifestyle of a grown creature. he tossed a look of good humour at fox then, ears sliding back somewhat as she stepped to inspect him, for both she and peregrine exuded a confidence that was undeniable to a servant such as he.

taltos was not easily shocked, but the words that came forth from peregrine were surprising in their own right. a petal drifted from his ruff to settled upon the ground, and he looked fully upon his lover, a gentle smile spreading agreeably across his face. he would not have faulted peregrine for hiding him away, as such liaisons were not typically pursued, though it would have stung the man had the jet devil publically elevated fox despite that.

wordlessly he crossed the small space between himself and the others, and pressed his lips gently against the underside of peregrine's cheek, accepting his offer quietly and completely. at length lasher turned to fox, seeking her gaze with his own — such a lovely smoke-hue they were!

the prospect of pursuing for companionship and pleasure a woman was one that pleased lasher. peregrine provided much to him, but the earthen celt had been created to worship the feminine form, and this he would do unto fox, despite the fact that they would perhaps never touch. a gentle sound flickered in his throat; he extended his muzzle slowly toward the ruby, holding his breath in hopes she would accept his gesture.

she deigned, and he sighed in the small span of time during which his lips too touched her cheek. turning his attention to peregrine, lasher listened intently to his devil's words, nodding. blue willow and atticus must be brought into the fold, though he was unsure of how peregrine's brother would respond. chiding himself for his judgement, the earthen servant moved to the alpha's other side, flanking him as a lover and as a confidant.

in time, as the last echoes of the panther's summons died away, the willow arrived, and taltos watched her fondly. the woman's gentle nature was first to surface; she proffered healing to fox, which went unaccepted.

the tension in the ruby was palpable, and as much as lasher loved peregrine, he wondered if it was wise to elevate her so hastily before she had learned the plateau and its wolves. yet it was not in his nature to question, nor his intention, and so he settled himself to observe the outcome of this meeting.

truthfully, lasher would have been surprised had blue willow not granted her favor and blessing. the curved woman did so with gentility and aplomb, her elegance unrivaled by any presence around her. taltos also quietly questioned this, but he put the thought from his mind. whatever she decided, that was her truth and he would not inquire about it.

atticus did not arrive, but the delta took it in natural stride, and flexed his forepaws against the earth. fox was still palpably uneasy, though lasher attributed it to her sudden upthrust into the high tier of blacktail deer plateau. he had no doubt she would thrive there, however.

he glanced expectantly to peregrine, open affection shining in his gaze, and awaited the words of his panther.

he watched blue willow depart, returning her gesture with a warm expression. peregrine was given a cheeky smile and a mirroring lap of his own tongue, and he watched the ruby and panther set off for a more intimate setting with delight in his heart.

stride lengthened, he moved in the direction of the plateau's outskirts, to hunt and perhaps find a member of the pack in want of company. the sun glistened warmly upon his pelt as he set off, plume swaying with quiet happiness.