it was a grey rain that found the plateau that morning, drifting down in cold droplets. lasher paced alongside his dark companion, attuning himself to her emotions. responsibly, though she had accepted his offer, they would not consummate the union until it had been blessed by their superior, formalized by his word. it had not been a proposal taltos had offered, as she deserved, but a suggestion, driven by his desire to see delight upon her face once more, and children of her womb brought forth into the world.

now, he nudged blue willow's shoulder, pausing in his steps. the swampwater of his gaze lilted with deepest green briefly, before he offered her a quiet smile and lifted his muzzle to call for Dante. he could not conceive of the gunmetal leader refusing their request. he was a logical creature, and moralistic, unfettered with jealousy.

in the rain, lasher waited, buoyed by blue willow's presence at his side, gaze sweeping the sodden thicket.

it was with attentive swiftness that dante arrived, a pleasing characteristic in a leader, and lasher nodded companionably at him. he knew recent events stressed the man, who had been thrust into the role by peregrine's abrupt departure. taltos hoped that the request he was to put forth would please dante, distract him happily for a moment from his myriad tasks.

dante. it is good to see you. lasher glanced toward blue willow, gauging her expression before he cleared his throat and began: we have come to ask your blessing upon a union we have formed to support one another, and to bring forth children in the coming spring.

it would not be a traditional arrangement, he continued, pausing now with an expression of trepidation, for this was what fox had found distasteful, but of course i will help blue willow to raise them. in light of atticus' departure, i felt she could find solace in her children, and she has been a much-beloved companion to me. her presence has helped me to mend, and it is with love in my heart that i made this offer; it is not lightly given or mulled over, by either of us.

the verbose wolf fell silent then, glancing at blue willow to see if she would add anything before his attention returned to dante.

dante listened quietly, and when it came time for him to speak, he granted the request gratefully. lasher glanced toward blue willow again, hoping to see the light appear in her eyes. reaching toward the plateau's alpha, he proffered a gentle nudge to the grey shoulder.

"thank you," the earthen delta murmured softly, thinking that now there was only peregrine to tell, but he supposed he would leave that to the willow. if there was a darker portion of his heart that gained minute satisfaction that peregrine would be displeased by the arrangement, or hurt in some way, lasher would never speak of it. consciously, he was not a vengeful beast unless some outside creature meant harm to those he loved.

for now, he was content. there would be time enough to mull over how the devil would take the news of blue willow's impending pregnancy — it was time to induct her firstly into the pleasures that came with the attempts at conception, and though shw was nervous now, in time she would not be so shy.

uncle. of course. lasher lapped his dark plume through the air at her suggestion, and dante's subsequent acceptance. you are next! he exclaimed slyly, though there was a friendly light in his eyes. to have the gunmetal alpha form such a role to his anticipated children was exciting to taltos, and he glanced fondly between the pair that had supported him through his grief, and held the plateau strong after peregrine's abandonment.

he returned her nudge with one of his own, though his eyes were trained thoughtfully upon dante. did the gunmetal man have a woman in mind to court? lasher inventoried quickly the available females, including amelie in the number despite her youth. then again, it was quite possible that the plateau's alpha would mesh his soul with one not yet among their ranks, as peregrine had.

stepping some feet away from the pair, taltos shook the gathered rainwater from his ruff, and licked droplets from his lips. i shall take my leave now. i have had my eye on a small herd of deer for a couple of days, he announced to them, nodding again with fondness at dante, though he glanced between the two of them, wondering if one or both wolves would wish to accompany him upon the hunt.

he gave a lingering smile at them both, taking the lead as they moved into the flatlands for the hunt. lasher was filled with a joy he had not felt since the time of peregrine, and saw the rare silver flash of hope in the days to come.