Bramblepoint Choke the chicken

"deirdre," lasher murmured softly. "deirdre and emaleth. donnelaith is the name of the pack i lead." perhaps by explaining his disjointed exclamation he could begin to unravel the knots between them, as mad as that would sound to a listening ear had he said it aloud. there were many steps of space between them, enough to speak without calling but it was not an intimate length.

however, it was warranted for their stilted talk. "deirdre is shaken. she ... avoids me. there was much blood." he felt as though he were admitting his failings as a father to peregrine, but somehow this did not chill him. the man had once known each one of his weaknesses -- perhaps that was the reason he spoke as he did. "i am sure in time that she will regain herself." 

a silence passed between them -- he wanted to inquire about peregrine's life at the plateau, if fox had given him children yet again, but knew this would be overstepping the very firm boundaries between the two of them now. and yet perhaps they had softened somewhat. 

he did not know.