Redhawk Caldera It's going to be a bumpy night

If the coyote hadn't released her and darted away into the night, Peregrine might not have hit him, as he swayed off course at the last minute and went careening a good six yards sideways. Breathing heavily, Wildfire shot a wild-eyed glance at his back, then immediately stood and spun, mistrustful of the coyote's antics and wary of his return. The night around them was quiet and still. Peregrine too had lapsed back into silence.

Heart still pounding in her chest, Wildfire trotted to join her father, ignoring the stinging dampness at the back of her neck. "Dud," she said, moving to stand in front of him. His face had gone slack. "Dud? Dud? Are you awake?" He didn't respond. Once again, the child glanced over her shoulder, afraid that the coyote might realize Peregrine wasn't a threat after all.

"Lil' Weeeeenie," her father sighed suddenly, causing the pup's neck to snap back toward him.

Her mouth was dry. "Do you hear me, dud? Can you walk?" Wildfire whispered sotto voce, swinging around to stand at his shoulder and giving him a nudge. To her surprise and relief, he began walking. And all it took were gentle prods to point him in any given direction.

Thus Wildfire painstakingly guided her sleepwalking father home, their arrival of course promptly awaking Fox and the others. None of them would get much more sleep this night—except for Peregrine, of course, who seemingly could not be woken from his spell...