Blacktail Deer Plateau All is fair in love and brostep

Edit: Um... editing this to conclude it...

When he finally spotted Crete, Peregrine's eyes softened. He let his brother come to him, though when Crete licked him beneath the chin, Peregrine playfully pushed him away with his swarthy muzzle. "Don't do that, dude," he said. "You're my brother, not my subordinate. I mean, don't tell anyone else that, of course," he added with a conspiratorial glimmer in his eye. He chuckled a moment later. In a way, all secrets were safe with Crete.

"How have you been, bro? You and Atti are tough to track down these days, you know." He gave Crete a playful look of reproof, then continued, "Mine and Hawkeye's pups will be here any day. I know you don't care for her much and I wish there was more I could do to help that. But, in any case, I want you to know I'd love you to be a part—preferably a big part—of our pups' lives."

Peregrine felt a lightening of his chest after issuing this important message. After giving Crete the opportunity to make a reply if he had one, the swarthy Alpha gave voice to a question that had been buzzing around in his mind but which he hadn't even acknowledged until now, even as it spilled from his lips. "Do you think you'll stay here? Or go back to Flightless Falcons? Or... somewhere else? I just... I get the feeling like it's only a matter of time before you and Atti go your own way. And I fucking hate it but... I want you to know that if you ever do leave, for any reason, I won't hold it against you. Unless you don't visit, in which case I'll track you down and beat your ass."

Peregrine truly meant it when he said he wouldn't hold his decision against Crete, whether he opted to stay or go. But when his mute brother disappeared without a word (hurrhurr) in the coming weeks, the Alpha male's tune would change. Going back home to find his happiness was okay but doing it without telling anybody—and right when Peregrine's pups were due—would leave a permanent blemish on the brothers' relationship.