Redhawk Caldera angel of mercy

"That's good," Elwood said as Eljay delivered a respectful nip to his chin and commented that there hadn't been any unwelcome passers-by. He hadn't anticipated that there would be much traffic near the den, as Peregrine and Fox had made their wishes clear. Even the newest members knew to avoid the area until the pups were a bit older.

His ears pricked when Eljay showed some interest in becoming a caretaker. It was especially exciting because this was a trade he had thought of on his own; while Elwood and Peregrine had both tried to nudge him into the role of a gamekeeper and Finley wanted to take him scouting, he seemed to have his own thoughts about working with youngsters. Unsurprisingly, he followed his statement with a self-deprecating comment, to which Elwood shook his head.

"I think that's a great idea, Eljay," he encouraged. "You would have plenty to teach them; the first couple of months of their lives, they'll have to learn everything. You can teach them how to play and how to get along with each other. You can tell them stories. You could even help them learn their way around the caldera." There were lots of opportunities that Eljay could seize, even if he didn't think he was particularly talented in any one area.