lasher had heard of junior's actions against finley; he had learned when he had returned to bring the healing redhawk wolf sustenance. while he too was angered by the girl's thoughtless actions, he bore her affection — she had suffered much due to her father's decisions. he feared dante's retribution, however. the gunmetal wolf was a logical, gentle sort, but even he possessed a point of breakage.

knowing that dante was surely appraised of the situation, the gamma waited alongside the den, nares flared for junior's scent. she was close, but his eyes did not behold her. heart thudding as a caged bird, he awaited the sterling alpha.

the silver man appeared, and lasher returned his gesture. he seemed collected, but the gamma could sense the emotions hidden by the impassive expression upon dante's handsome visage. no wors issued from him, however; it was the alpha's right to speak first in such situations.

junior emerged from the den then, and the sight of her pitiful, forlorn frame caused taltos' throat to tighten with sorrow. murkwater eyes did not betray his own thoughts upon the matter; the man's gaze turned to steel as he regarded the girl.

dante's tone was frightening in its icy intensity; it was not a side of the man that lasher had before seen. junior's rejoinder was as chilling, though her eloquence brought a brief flare of pride to spice his soul. ears tipped back momentarily as the girl spoke of a wolf with whom peregrine had made amends; he thought immediately of himself, and guilt overwhelmed him as she revealed the source behind her lacerations.

yet he said nothing, intending to hear what dante would say before he put himself forth.

while junior submitted readily to her punishment, lasher did not care for her all-knowing tone. dante and blue willow knew what the plateau throve upon, and it was not unkindness, nor dramatics. he bit back a growl of warning, however; though his hackles rose, and his eyes flared at her criticism.

yet the moment passed as readily as it had arrived. whether or not she cared for the idea, junior was firmly peregrine's daughter in this moment: fierce, sarcastic, intractable. the man sighed quietly, seeking blue willow's eyes.

dante managed to compose himself, which lasher found admirable. junior's pain was evident, both in her physicality and her mental state, but the vague challenge of her words, now unfettered by fever, brought his own instinct surging to the fore.

at the mention of his name, the gamma moved to dante's side, a nod accompanying his words. he would open his time for the girl; taltos wanted nothing more than to remedy the agony of her heart, and he was almost certain that despite blue willow's obvious anger with her young charge, the healing den would remain an open place to the juvenile.

dante departed, and lasher cast a glance over one earthen shoulder before allowing the brief bit of irritation he had borne through the conversation appear. that is quite enough! the man growled into the chaos of junior's swearing, and his legs carried him quickly, for he intended to block her path and speak to her, even if she was not ready to see reason. stop, he ordered, hackles flaring and tail curled over his hips; he did not like to take this route, but he would tell her that which he had to say.

osprey junior, if you want to be treated as an adult and have your words taken into account, you are doing a poor job of showing such. his tone softened, as did his stance, and he sought her eyes with his own swampwater gaze. i, for one, do not hate you, and while i believe you are acting quite foolishly, i have forgiven you the transgression.

the gamma looked briefly to blue willow then, wondering if she would speak, and then he continued in much the same vein: i want you to remain here, at the plateau. this is your home, and it is where you belong. do not lacerate your body against the pain of your heart; speak with me. speak with willow. even dante, though he is angry with you, and you with him — even he would lend a gentle and understanding ear to your sorrow and your rage, junior.

blue willow pointed out that junior and fox shared the same hotheaded disregard for others, and the girl reacted as he had expected. he did not like the talk of anyone slaying her, and was rather afraid that she would take her own life in a burning fit of rage and sorrow.

lowering himself to his belly, lasher prostrated his body alongside the weeping girl, ears slipping back to cup his skull; he gave a light press of his muzzle to her shoulder. no one is going to kill you. and you could never be like her. there is too much good in you, junior.

there are many who care very deeply for you here, tine beag, lasher murmured gently, glancing fondly at blue willow. we know you are hurting, and we understand why that has come to be. you need only open your heart, and the healing shall begin.

she did not answer, however, though he felt she had absorbed some of their words. sorrowful gaze followed her retreating form until it faded from sight, and at length he turned to look at his lover. a slight frown curved his lips, but soon his brow smoothed and he proffered blue willow a lick to the side of her neck.

you seem tired, he said softly, eyes falling to regard the curve of her belly. i will seek out junior later; for now, you should find sleep.

he gave a gentle sigh. it will take time. her healing will not be immediate, but it will come. she is loved here. she will be well. bidding blue willow farewell with a kiss to her cheek, he watched her fondly tread in the direction of her den, then turned to seek out a temporary shelter of his own nearby.