Redhawk Caldera malice through the looking-glass

peregrine arrived quickly, and lasher swayed his tail at the approaching man with tentative affability. yet the panther did not stop, and whatever joy he had felt at seeing the redhawk man quickly drained. hackles flaring, his teeth flashed in a defensive snarl, though ears did cup the other's words. shock raced through him -- worry for the child he had never met -- and the remembrance of finley's tearstained face. perhaps she had been afraid that wildfire would die.

but there was no time to dwell upon it -- he backed away from peregrine, hurt and anger mingling in his expression. while he knew he would not win against the muscular devil, saena's state must be expressed to her father. and thus, tucking chin to chest, lasher pleaded with peregrine for a moment longer in which to share his words.

"fox nearly killed saena," he blurted loudly, continuing to take shaking steps away from the redhawk man. "she is very injured." surely peregrine knew that no harm would befall his children from the plateau; lasher had been there to watch his first litter grow, along with dante, with willow, with osprey. a father's wrath he could now understand, but this -- this threat of murder, of destruction toward those with whom he had once eaten and those he had loved -- lasher could not understand it.

he paused; outsiders, peregrine had said. those who loved him were also to be grouped, with the assailant who had tried to kill a child. anger welled in taltos, and the seed of hatred was planted in its dark soil. the inkling that peregrine had known of fox's attack on saena began to eat at him, but it was unfathomable -- no father would allow his child to be torn so. 

he saw the white along peregrine's cheeks; his eyes filled with the worry that had become his closest companion these past days. if not for the impending promise of death looming between them, taltos would have swept close to kiss the new colour there and wonder at what tragedy had created them.