Blacktail Deer Plateau They used to sing about the birds and the bees

"Wow, that sounds so negative," Peregrine replied, though he shared his sister's laugh. "You're the best mid-ranking, unambitious spinster ever!" he quipped with a wink. There was no shame in being in the middle of the pack, nor in avoiding the power and responsibility that came with leadership. And he would never define Osprey as a spinster. Just because she chose not to tie herself down to a family didn't make her worth any less. He had long since come to accept and support her choices to go a less traditional, more free spirited route.

She invited him on a walk and Peregrine bobbed his head. "I'd love to." He motioned for her to lead the way, then fell into step beside her, like her larger, blacker shadow. "It took some adjustment, didn't it? But we're doing better than ever, like you said. We'll always make it work." He reached out to nuzzle against Osprey's silvered ear.