Redhawk Caldera The night is still young

it ended almost as quickly as it had begun; he slowed, sides heaving with the exertion of the unpredicted laps about the caldera. peregrine's soft word buoyed him; he listened in a half-haze of exhaustion and elation, and when the other had fallen silent, the brief green of his own eyes, dull marble in comparison to the electric jade of peregrine's own, came slowly to alight upon the hopeful and lovely features.

and while he wished to respond suddenly and with the wanting that flared within him, gnawing at his entrails as if it were molech's fire upon the bones of children, taltos settled for a warm smile, a gentle nod. "i would enjoy that very much."

and yet the words held, beyond his control, the undercurrent of unspoken things; he held the panther's eyes, his heart beating quickly in the cage of his ribs, both from their night running and the anticipation he fought so viciously.