Redhawk Caldera Hideaway

It was October and things were getting back to normal at the caldera. Well, most things. Wildfire frowned as she peered down at her ankle. She had really put it through a lot lately, between the pack hunt and helping find Finley and bring her home. It was swollen and very, very achy today. She would have to stay off her feet again and get Raven to assist her with pain management.

Naturally, lying around doing nothing got old fast. As the morning wore into afternoon, she pushed herself to her feet, keeping her sprained one off the ground. She then began to hop away from the rendezvous site, aiming in no particular direction. The wind picked up and it began to rain, which actually felt kind of good on her angry ankle but more than a little cold and unpleasant on the rest of her body after a while.

She saw the mouth of a cave up ahead and stopped, leering at it. Ever since the tornado, she had sworn off the tunnels. But when the wind picked up and icy rain began to lash at her, Wildfire swallowed her fears and ducked inside the mouth. She wouldn't go any further, just deep enough to get out of the bad weather.

The instant she entered the cave, a foul smell struck her nose. Despite herself, Wildfire turned and peered into the deep, dark bowels of the earth. She thought she saw a shape back there, a little wisp of white against the darkness. Against her better judgment, Wildfire began to creep further into the cave, only to stop short and stare, aghast, when she realized she was looking at the corpse of her Uncle Ray.