Redhawk Caldera Crocodile rock

While Elwood busied himself with the fresh meat, Peregrine idly licked his paws, then began grooming his legs. When he reached his chest, the Beta male finished and spoke up again, causing the Alpha to cease his movements. He could finish his impromptu bath later... or ask Fox to finish it for him.

Speaking of which, Elwood asked about her and the kids. Peregrine replied, "Everyone's doing all right. We couldn't be prouder of the Firebirds. They're all showing specialties already." He smiled a proud, fatherly smile, which then faltered slightly as he admitted, "Although Raven and I barely spend time together anymore. She hasn't been my biggest fan since the incident. I'm pretty sure I traumatized her. I wish I knew how to fix it."

He didn't necessarily want to linger on bad news, though that reminded him of something else. "Speaking of the incident," he continued in a low voice, "I ran into Lasher and told him the truth. I don't know what I expected but he had the worst possible reaction. He basically told me I'm the scum of the earth and that he hopes I die blind and lonely or something like that..."

Even as he said it, the words that had quietly bothered him sounded absolutely silly. Unbidden, a laugh exploded from his mouth. Lasher's words had been driven by sentiment and were entirely ludicrous but never had they seemed so utterly ridiculous as they did now, replaying over and over in his head and causing his laughter to deepen.