Blacktail Deer Plateau Well you only need the light when it's burning low

Peregrine eyed the moody sky. "April showers bring May flowers," he idly remarked to the young children romping around inside the den, "or something like that." He turned back toward the interior and nuzzled the closest youngster; it happened to be Pura. "I'll see you all in a little bit," he told them, making eye contact with today's babysitter (Kisu) before setting out into the woods.

His remaining brother and sister were still around, he knew, but they both kept pretty busy, so he didn't see as much of them as he would have liked. He'd seen even less of Osprey than Atticus lately and that bothered him. Especially right now, Peregrine wanted his sister to be a major feature in his life—and his kids' lives. He wanted them to know their aunt, particularly Osprey Jr. They were already well on their way to growing up and she'd scarcely come by to see them. Peregrine understood her reasons—he knew Pied's death, so quickly followed by Crete's departure, had badly shaken her—but he hoped to coax her back into the thick of things today.

"Knock, knock," he said quietly when he tracked her down to her den. Peregrine dipped his head inside, saw her curled up in there and frowned, slowly inching toward her and touching his muzzle against her shoulder. "Hey," he said softly, "you okay?" She looked worse than he'd expected and it jarred him. Peregrine felt a lump in his throat.