Redhawk Caldera serpens

The day was young.

The clouds dotted the sky and the summer sun had not come out to scorch them again, yet. The coolness of the morning air was a welcomed thing. Perhaps she should have taken advantage of the good weather to extend herself beyond the caldera. Hunt, scout, explore.

So why did she linger within the borders still?

Mainly because she had become aware of the soft swell of growing numbers. New faces she had not truly met. Then, of course, the faces that had been here her whole time so far. No matter how little that whole time was still.

She cut her path towards a cache, hopeful she might kill two birds with one stone. Maybe even three if it panned out well enough. She could acquire breakfast and see if it needed a refill — maybe she'd even meet someone else over breakfast.

There was a certain bounce in her usually stalking long stride. The universal sign of a good mood.

She felt back to normal, more or less, except for one thing: the presences. The situation was odd enough, though something extra peculiar had happened over the past few days. Their number had maxed out at seven distinct entities, then begun shrinking again. Towhee was down to three and wondering if they, too, would eventually vanish back into the ether.

Dunno how I feel about that, T-B-H, she muttered as she walked along. She had gotten used to her ghostly company. I don’t care if I’m going bonks. I’d like you to stay. I mean. If you can. If it’s not a bother. If you don’t have somewhere better to be…

Towhee trailed off when she spotted Trailhawk directly in her path. It seemed she wasn’t the only one in search of an afternoon snack. She cleared her throat, pulled her lips into a smile and waved her tail as she approached. She hadn’t really gotten a chance to speak with the woman since her stormy—literally and metaphorically—induction into the pack.

Hey, I’ve been meaning to catch up with you, she said conversationally as she walked right up to the cache and began sifting through it with a broad paw. Her eyes remained fixed on Trailhawk as she continued, See how you’re setting into the caldera.

Not someone new!

Yet the face was very welcomed. Her tail offered a few wide waves behind her as she laid eyes on the elder Redhawk. Content to let the woman have the first dibs on whatever remained in the cache. Trailhawk could find something fresher later or go sniff around another one. Her current hunger was one more born out of boredom rather than survival.

Settling good. She offered as she watched for whatever the Redhawk would dig up. Trailhawk was hopeful that perhaps this would be a meeting of good moods — or that her own good mood could perhaps be infectious.

Things seem better? Half question and half statement.

Trailhawk spoke succinctly, which Towhee appreciated. She bobbed her head in acknowledgement, glad to hear that the newcomer was settling in well. Towhee didn’t really understand what had compelled the woman to join their ranks during such a dreadful time but she decided not to look a gift horse in the mouth or whatever.

Killer’s back, she replied simply, one corner of her mouth lifting as she pulled a relatively fresh hare out of the stockpile. Halfsies? she offered.

She felt two of the three presences flank her and peered over her shoulder as if she might spot the third. She wouldn’t, of course. Towhee had never seen anything, only felt. But it was odd, how easily she recognized them despite any tangible evidence. It was Maxim on her right, Leona on her left, and Caracal who’d suddenly gone missing.

Awkwardly steals your toon and turns him into a delusion, lmao.

i love it <3

Killer's return must be a good sign of things to come. It would give stability to the children and the mother of them. Of course, to Towhee too.

Halfsies. She agreed with a firm nod. If the elder wished to share a meal, she would treat it with a measure of respect. Not inclined to decline such a good offer! It showed trust — or maybe she was placing too much importance into the carcass of a hare.

Although her gaze followed the elder Redhawk's own. Wondering what captured the woman's attention over the meal. Perhaps she looked for Killer now? A soft flick of one ear before she figured she ought to ask the things on her mind —

Still no more than one territory away? Take others with me?

Unaware that Towhee may not hear these words if her gaze still lingered elsewhere.

It pained her a little, for Caracal to simply vanish along with the others, but Towhee accepted it with surprising equanimity. She turned her head, catching the tail end of Trailhawk’s first question and the entirety of the second. It was enough to jog her memory, pulling Towhee’s lips into a frown.

You’re welcome to move about freely, though I would find Killdeer before you wander far, she said slowly. I mean, you should meet him anyway, but something happened to him. He can give you the cautionary tale, then you can use your own judgment.

The Redhawk focused on parceling the meat then. Her division wasn’t precise, given her primal tools, but she tore the carcass more or less in half. She offered Trailhawk the larger half, not necessarily out of kindness but because Towhee’s stomach still couldn’t hold a lot these days. She wasn’t even sure she could finish the littler half.

I’m sorry things have been so… wrought, Towhee offered as they settled down to their snacks. I really appreciate that you decided to stick around.

She felt the two invisible apparitions hovering in the background and forwarded the sentiment to them too. Maxim and Leona had come to her first, so it made sense that they might be the last to leave too. As she chewed a mouthful of rabbit meat, she wondered if they would disappear as she continued getting better. Towhee selfishly wanted them to stay, though not enough to resume any flirtations with death, thank you very much.

The idea of a mother-like figure seemed to linger around the elder Redhawk. Perhaps there was only something sentimental living in the heart of Trailhawk. Perhaps she was somehow reminded of her own mother in the dulling shine of elder eyes.

She was given instruction again. Go to Killdeer — but ultimately use her own judgement. It was both daunting and an honor. To be trusted that she might not make the wrong decision, that she would not become another wayward body. Her weight shifted at the thought, consumed some of the rabbit they had gone halfsies on.

It is a good place. She assured the Redhawk. Even with the loss and the resurfacing of the patriarch, the caldera was steady. It was a secured place among a seemingly endless wasteland of nothing beyond their doorstep.

I want to be useful. More involved. She confessed this to the Elder, assuming it would be met with guidance, of course. What does Redhawk need now?

It is, she could only agree upon swallowing.

The next words out of Trailhawk’s mouth were not surprising, though still pleasing. She wanted to do more than just stick around. She used the word “involved” and Towhee could only bob her head in approval.

I usually would’ve asked you this before now, she said, trying not to beat herself up about it, but how are you with kids? We have Mal’s two little ones, then there’s Delos. She paused. They’re going to need teachers. It doesn’t have to be anything formal, but if there’s something you’re good at, I’d ask you to teach them. What’re you good at, Trailhawk? And/or what do you enjoy doing?

This was another thing they would’ve covered during a proper recruitment spiel: Trailhawk’s skills. Towhee sucked in a breath, trying to ignore the lick of guilt and instead indulge her curiosity. The resident had nothing to prove to her; she’d already shown her worth. But what tickled her fancy? Hunting? Guarding? Healing? Something else?

I am wanting to learn how...babysitting works. She confessed. Keenly aware she was no shining staple, but she could be trusted. Especially the older they got the easier it would be to feel more like friend and less like caretaker. Alivia offers to babysit with me. Smarter together, I think. Aware she was a little ramble-y now! Or rather more fluffy out details before getting to the real meat.

Nervous? No. Maybe. Everything felt very big and important! Even if she already trusted and felt a great sense of comfort with the Elder Redhawk.

But! I maybe teach tracking — and stars, their stories or uses. Whatever interests the little Redhawks. Perhaps Delos was not Redhawk blood — just like Trailhawk was of no relation to Redhawks — but he was still a child of their named group.

Her phrasing tickled Towhee’s funny bone, though she had the good sense to resist laughing. It was a noble aspiration, regardless of how she worded it. She smiled approvingly, the curve of her lips growing when Trailhawk mentioned Alivia. Not only did she think that was a good idea, she was glad to hear that the two younger she-wolves had struck up a camaraderie.

If memory serves, stars can be used for navigation, can’t they? Towhee said, thinking of Phox. Either way, those both sound like great subjects to teach the littles. And pairing up with Livi at first is a great plan. I assume you haven’t had many occasions to look after pups then?

She didn’t judge, though it made her curious about Trailhawk’s history. Her future, too. She seemed very go-with-the-flow, though Towhee wondered if she had any aspirations for herself. Did she hope to find a mate someday, bear some pups? Or perhaps she had a different path in mind.

Do you mind me asking where you came from? she queried with a inquisitive look in her flamed eyes.

Her tail waved wildly behind her for a moment — Yes! She quipped with warmth. While it might not be heard, her body language oozed warmth for the Elder's familiarity with the stars. Thrilled that it was not viewed as some kind of useless little thing to keep young minds busy.

No. Not any. She confessed with a bit more of a sheepish grin now. As for the question of her history, she had no qualms sharing that either! Perhaps feeling a bit silly that she had not thought to do such without prompting until now.

Hawk's Nest. Mostly family. I was youngest when leaving. No pups to watch there. Which hopefully added context to her limited babysitter skills. Small, small group. Not many...visitors. A shrug of her shoulders.

In many ways, it reminded her of here. Which perhaps had made it so easy to stay even as things changed. Yet in other, more important ways, it was distinctly different.

The name of her previous pack earned a mild double take. What were the odds? She remembered thinking along those same lines when first learning the woman’s name. Towhee’s lips twitched, enjoying getting to know these little details about a wolf who had become a solid asset to the caldera’s ranks.

I might be biased, but I think the nestlings here will be the perfect starter pack for you, Towhee quipped with a huffed laugh. Before you and Livi borrow them from their parents, you should make a point to stop by the Hobbit Hole while one of us—Killdeer, Mal or myself—is around. We can make introductions and get you and the pups used to one another. In fact, consider that your next formal task.

There was Delos to consider too, though he was a bit of a special case. Towhee wanted Trailhawk to come to know him too, of course, but the Redhawk herself needed to bridge that gap first. She made a mental note to do that within the next day or two. In the meantime, the Alphas’ pups really would be a great place for the aspiring sitter to start.

Biased was not always a bad thing, Trailhawk wanted to say. Instead, she allowed her tail to whip behind her with eagerness. Flattered to be trusted! Eager to experience babysitting with this starter pack.

It will be done! She quipped with a warmth and a wide smile. Something that had become increasingly more common with her time in the Caldera.

fade so we can free these two to a modern timeline? <3