he had not forgotten the offer he had given blue willow, and as atticus showed no signs of recovery, the man wondered if the healer would accept. he had considered the logistics of a triad pairing when fox came into her season; seeded by both himself and peregrine, the children would belong to neither of the males, and yet would belong to both of them, as there was no way of ascertaining their true paternity.

but somehow the earthen delta did not think the ruby would accept this choice; for all her spitfire appearance and attitude, he sensed a traditionalism in her. taltos suspected that fox would not have been so cavalier about peregrine's choice for his triad had lasher been female. even now, he wondered if the flame's elevation to alpha female would swarm her head with thoughts of her own power.

and so lasher lifted his voice, and called for peregrine, standing in the flowers alongside his den as he awaited the panther.

close as he was to the ruling trio, lasher had heard of the altercation between osprey junior and fox. it was to be expected; he had thought that the fire-spirited dark child would one day take the reins of the plateau unto herself when peregrine retired, but now that position was being jeopardized by the threat of new children next year — cubs for whom fox would vie and jostle.

he was not fond of the dynamic that had occurred among the willow and the ruby; he had liked it better when peregrine and the healer were mounted upon the top tier, with fox below, but it seemed fox had usurped her rank. or perhaps the willow had given it willingly, for reasons of her own. he would ask her.

for now, he gave peregrine a glance that flashed lust and affection, and lashed his tongue across the bridge of his beloved panther's nose. mmm, he purred by way of assent. when atticus first disappeared from our lands, i made blue willow an offer of myself — i offered that i should father her children, if she decided she wished for a family. i know she is traditional, but the pull of one's own body can be a fickle thing indeed.

murky eyes lifted to peregrine's own. i would like to honor that promise, if she chooses in the springtime to follow the desires of her body. regardless of what fox wished, lasher added to himself, but kept the thought unsaid. now, what troubles you, my love?

he was both surprised and not to hear that peregrine had offered the same to blue willow; it seemed that her desire for children and a family, if she chose to move on after atticus' accident, would be well-supported in the pack. his panther's statement about fox caused taltos to flick an ear backward momentarily — as willow had been a part of their worlds long before fox had found her way here, he would have liked to have a more concrete affirmation to the offer he had made the gentle woman. fox's word was law, but the willow's contribution to the plateau should not go unrewarded.

however, lasher trusted that peregrine would handle the situation smoothly, should it arrive, and so he settled his heart. she thanked me; she will think upon it, the earthen man answered. blue was tactful; she would not have rejected him outright.

lasher adopted an expression of vague worry when peregrine spoke of osprey junior having run away. the panther seemed to know where his daughter was residing for the present, and that settled taltos somewhat, though he did not like the idea of her being away from those who would protect her. i know that she and fox had shared words, but i did not know she had gone from us for the time being. some time would be well for her.

lasher did not expect peregrine's next inquiry; he masked the musing that arose within him by leaning forward to smooth the dark fur of the other's cheek. though he was not a father, and perhaps would not be — the decision rode upon blue willow's acceptance and fox's blessing — he sensed the turmoil within his beloved panther.

giving peregrine a lingering look, taltos let out his breath with a wry look directed at the plateau's alpha. as an individual, i am fond of her fiery demeanour and confidence. as a leader, i find her power-hungry and i sense she may have the potential to be heavy handed when the situation does not warrant such things. she is young, and wields her rank not as a wolf with experience might, but as a weapon.

murkwater eyes held peregrine's own for a moment. i do not think it is fated that fox and i pursue any liaison together, and it was my thought from the moment you announced us unto the pack that she would be less than tolerant of my relationship with you, was i female and not male. but that is merely an observation, and has no true bearing on anything. fox's attempt at diverting from tradition was not successful, not in lasher's eyes, and he fell silent, wondering if he had offended peregrine in any way.

eyes lidded as peregrine gave forth his affectionate gesture, and gave the man a gentle look as he spoke, confirming his thoughts about the ruby. in truth, taltos was taken aback again by the devil's question, and his lips thinned into a line as he thought over his response. blue willow has been a part of this pack for quite some time. she has touched many lives, and the wolves here adore her. she is also a woman with ambition who climbed the ranks of her own accord to become beta female, the earthen servant added quietly, touching with vague spirit upon fox's almost immediate elevation to the leadership ranks, without her having worked as the willow had.

if fox refuses, and i believe she will, and that you are right, then i would question her as to why. the willow stepped down from her rank not only to tend atticus, but to avoid conflict between herself and fox. that is my belief. she is a strong woman, but she would not stand against your mate without a valid reason. therefore, she sacrificed her rank, which she had earned, for a noble cause. add to that her age. she is a gentle, honeyed soul tempered by experience. fox is young and fiery. if it were blue willow making this decision, and not fox, i daresay that her attitudes toward it would not be biased. i cannot say the same of fox.

he was long-winded, and paused for a series of moments before ending his answer: the decision rests also with blue willow. i know that her heart wants more than mere children. however, if fox were to deny her, and the offer i have made, then i would be displeased, but i trust you and your judgement. you will do what is right, peregrine. fox must understand that blue willow's history to this land and to these lives runs far deeper than her own contributions thus far. the rank of alpha is a gift and to be yoked together into the role of alpha pair is not without its conflict, and its benefits. however, it is not a weapon, to be invoked based solely on jealousy.

at length, taltos chuffed lightly at himself. i am sorry, my love; i speak too much.

wise was not a word lasher would use to describe himself, but he accepted his lover's comment with a gracious nod of his head. he watched fondly as the panther lay his lovely frame against the emerald grass, and descended alongside peregrine in a heartbeat's notice. i will take it! he exulted playfully, before rolling so that his earthen fur meshed with the night of the other's pelt.

he was silent then, as they had spoken of deep things. perhaps peregrine had some ribald humour to shed then, or an invitation for more carnal activities. taltos was attentive in his quietude, gentle affection in his gaze.

peregrine's ministrations elicited a deep, delicious shiver from taltos, who laid back his head upon the green carpet, lips curving as the panther teased but did not deliver. however, he enjoyed such tantalizations, the giving of them as well as the receiving — the alpha male was quite satisfying when it came to such.

tell me, he breathed, turning his head upon the earth to behold peregrine's proud, handsome visage, shifting somewhat to better face his lover and hear what it was he would say.

and run wild lasher's mind did — he weighed each possible option in his mind smilingly, before turning the full weight of his gaze upon the much-beloved man. whatever it was peregrine wished of him, he would give it freely, for each fibre of his being belonged to the panther, and he worshipped the man as he had only before worshipped julien.

he had not expected this. an offer of mateship, or a verbal affirmation of love and promise. lasher gave a slow blink, then rolled forward onto his belly to lave peregrine's cheek lovingly with his tongue. i would like that very much, he told the devil quietly, the smile upon his face tinged in eagerness.

peregrine's jest was given a flash of a smile, and summarily taltos lay back upon the grass, the mounting desire in his body quite evident in his lower region.

lasher did not have a chance to respond before peregrine fulfilled his intentions, but the reverberation of his lover's words rang varied lovely hues in his mind as pleasure rendered him incoherent and stricken.

it was over in a moderate amount of time, and taltos had no complaints within him as he lay sodden and sated upon the emerald carpet, chest heaving with exertions and his eyes dancing upon peregrine. i love you as well, my heart, the man whispered softly, before a smirk broke across his lips. that was very good. you have been paying attention, he joked, a mild, throaty laugh emanating from him.