Redhawk Caldera breaking the habit

It was a challenge, pretending everything was fine for his kids when in reality everything was horribly wrong. Peregrine did his best, though, for them. He doted on little Wildfire, though he did not forget about the other two. Raven seemed a bit petrified of him, which broke his heart. It was just another method of due punishment, he supposed. He hoped Fox or someone else would try to soothe her fears. It was a crime that the pack did not have a Healer or a Counselor to help everyone cope with this crisis. Peregrine certainly could have used both (not that he would have allowed himself).

Wildfire was napping and Peregrine had stretched out in the mouth of the badger den, simply gazing at her. I'm so fucking sorry, he thought, fighting the urge to bawl. His little girl didn't seem to associate the trauma with him, which was some sort of miracle. He watched her little red flanks rise and fall with slow, deep breaths. He swallowed when his jade eyes fixed upon the ragged puncture wounds on the underside of her neck. Peregrine shuddered.

That's when a voice rose up, calling for him. Aside from his pups, Peregrine did not feel up to socializing with anyone. He was, for all intents and purposes, the pack's pariah. Nonetheless, he reluctantly pushed himself to his feet. The former Alpha asked the nearby @Magpie to keep an eye on the dozing pup, then slunk past her to heed Pan's call. He was one of the few wolves who hadn't been present for the catastrophe and the swarthy wolf did not look forward to informing his pack mate of what had happened.

But if that's what must be done, it was just more deserved punishment. "Pan," Peregrine greeted when he came across the pale male. He kept his head bowed, his tail low, to acknowledge his new place in the ranks. "What can I do for you?" he queried in a strangely meek voice, not unlike Pan's own.