with the birth of his children fresh upon them, taltos was driven by instinct to hunt for them. unfortunately, the snowfall had forced prey into the foothills and woodlands. it was only by dumb luck that the servant found the thin trail of an elderly bull elk, which he followed far from the borders of his home.

he had told blue willow of his intentions to hunt; despite being a distance from the plateau, the meat with which he would return would freeze in a cache, and he would not need to leave her side for some time.

night swept the land, and with it the breast of frost, which rimed his guard hairs in silver and forced his breath into a hot plume. but his eyes had narrowed upon his prize. the elk had mired himself in a deep drift, but, too weak to drag himself from it, posed an easy kill for the dark wolf, who pounced to pin the ruminant's head down while heavy teeth cut the mortal vein beneath the chin.

lasher, panting, lapped the hot blood cooling quickly upon the snow, hackles bristling as he peered around for any approaching figure before he began the slow work of butchering the carcass.

a growl came from the male as he was approached, but his expression softened, becoming warm as he noticed it was ashton. the golden youth's presence became appreciated rather than regarded as a threatening thing. my children have been born; i am hunting for them.

gesturing to the downed elk, from which he had already eaten the heart, the beta male shook his bloodied head ruefully. however, i cannot eat all of it. you may have some, if you would like. i am taking what i can upon my return to the plateau. as he spoke, his eyes alighted upon the kind visage of the redhawk wolf, and the sultry mellowness of his common attitude.

taltos grinned. yes. they are beautiful. nodding at the other, he stood aside and dug a small depression in the snow, tucking himself into it to watch ashton partake of the cooled kill. it occurred to him that the man would take anything he asked or said in stride, but the man of donnelaith kept his words to himself.

do you have plans to produce children of your own, ashton? he asked after a moment, eyes halflidded against the rising wind.

dashing. lasher was flattered, but remained silent upon that front. they are beautiful and strong, but i have not spent enough time in their small company to discern personalities. he spoke with a touch of regret, but ears thrust forward to hear the blonde healer's words.

fox was pervasive, it seemed; he narrowed his eyes at her mention, but, because he bore her no ill will, allowed the sensation to pass without deeper analysis. she is easily threatened, was his only comment upon the matter; it was not his place to attempt to sway ashton's opinion of his fiery mistress.

you seem the familial type, the beta male murmured at length, finally rising to continue his slow butchering of the meat-laden carcass.

he grinned. the warmth in the den has greatly improved; i lay down among them during their many naps. ashton seemed the sort who would play with his children throughout their lives, leaving the harsher discipline to his mate, but it was only one of several ways to be.

taltos found he was appreciative of the medic's attention to sensitive manners; the golden boy did not pry. it only added to the comfortable intrigue of the caldera's healer. he tugged at the elkmeat, slicing off large portions and swallowing what of it he could, to bring up for blue willow if need be.

it was peregrine's intention, at one time, that he, himself, and fox live together and raise whatever children were born communally; we would not know who the father was. obviously, that was not to be, lasher mused ruefully, pausing to lick blood from his jaws.

in time, which he passed in conversation with the man, lasher departed, with a wan look over his shoulder toward ashton. he would seek out the blondfur again.