Redhawk Caldera Hello, gorgeous

We have a thread but I figured a less grumpy one would be good too!

Ever since Peregrine's seizure and loss of sight, Nightjar's mood had lightened somewhat toward his sisters. His jealousy had given way to the reality of tragedy and the effect it had. While he wasn't afraid of losing Peregrine to this ailment, as it proved to be non-life threatening, it rendered Peregrine weaker than before. This in turn made Nightjar ever the more protective—nevermind that just a few weeks ago he'd told his father that sick and injured wolves didn't deserve to live if they were too ill to feed themselves and live ordinary lives—and somehow, that extended to his mother and siblings as well, enough that any jealousy he'd felt over their accomplishments was gone.

After all, with Peregrine weakened, Nightjar was now (he thought) the strongest in the family. It was his duty, out of love and respect, to protect them. So he hung around the rendezvous site and he not-so-subtly tailed Raven every now and again. Wildfire was more difficult. His sister was good at giving everyone the slip, including him, though he often expertly tracked her scent to the border hours after she'd slipped away. He knew she went beyond there, but like his parents, Nightjar knew there was nothing he could do for her when she chose to wander away. Outside the borders, she was unprotected, and all he could do was wait for her to return.

She'd headed inward recently, Nightjar realized upon crossing over her scent trail not too far from the borders. Maybe a day ago at best. He paused to fall over on his side and roll in her trail, collecting yet another scent (today he'd collected moose droppings, sap, autumn flowers, and mouldy dirt in with his usual blend of grass, soil and stone). Satisfied that her scent on him and his on the ground told the tale of his passing by here, the male trotted through the trees with his nose to the floor, following Wildfire's winding scent to the rendezvous site. There, he found only a grumbly Peregrine, but as he was on a mission, Nightjar didn't stop long to greet his father. A chuff, and he was off again.

Wildfire was heading uphill and though she was much quicker on her feet than he was, Nightjar caught up eventually by loping. His tongue lolled when he saw her and his demeanour shifted to one of neutral relaxation. His tail drifted above his back in a familiar wave, then settled back between his thighs. He issued a soft series of whines to greet his sister, and as he drew near, he sought to nip and grapple with her jaw in a good-natured tussle.