Redhawk Caldera #250

The pup didn't reply right away. Peregrine watched him carefully, trying to guess at what was going through his head right now. Perhaps nothing. He looked like a savage. The Alpha's lips twitched into an approving smile. Not so long ago, his life had become almost so anthropomorphic that he might as well have thrown on a t-shirt and pair of jeans and started walking around on two legs. Lately, Peregrine himself was tapping back into his wild roots. He enjoyed seeing that his offspring was following suit.

His grin widened when Nightjar cooled down and declared that he wanted to show his mother his kill. "She'll be so proud of you, NJ. You know, you didn't just kill this raccoon. You eliminated a threat. This thing," he continued, eyes dropping to the slain raccoon, "could have easily hurt someone. One of your sisters, for instance. Now it can't, because of you." His eyes glimmered with pride as they caught the boy's gaze, hoping Nightjar understood his accomplishment and took pride in it himself.

"Lead the way," he said casually in the next moment, waiting for Nightjar to pluck up his prize so he could trot it before his mother. As they walked, he added, "And since you've proven you're a capable killer, if we run into any bad guys on the borders tomorrow morning, I'll give you first dibs."