Redhawk Caldera back on the job

Although Elwood didn't know Pantaleimon well, he picked up on the sadness behind the male's eyes as he spoke. He wondered aloud about Peregrine and Fox's next litter, and Elwood nodded. He was sure that the Alpha pair would plan to have more pups as soon as the firebirds were old enough. That would mean more playmates for Eljay; he was curious to see how his son would act with younger children. But that wasn't what Pan was thinking about, so Elwood redirected his own thoughts, frowning slightly in sympathy.

It was obvious that Pan wanted children of his own; but with Peregrine as his lover, that complicated things. Elwood certainly didn't have any experience with a similar situation, but he tried to understand the male's feelings. "I'm sure it'll be sooner rather than later," he said, sidestepping over a branch in their path that likely had been knocked down by the storm. "But you're pretty close with the firebirds, right? So you'll probably be able to play an important role in raising the next litter," he suggested. Of course, that wasn't the same as having his own children, but Elwood didn't really know what else to say.