Redhawk Caldera Boom and bust

Elwood's ears stood tall at the sound of Wildfire's voice. It had been quite some time since he had last seen his goddaughter -- and, in fact, that visit had been a secret to everyone else. She had asked him to refrain from mentioning it to her parents, and he had kept his promise, though he had to admit that he sometimes thought of Wildfire and worried about her. Her physical and emotional states had been fragile when she recklessly trespassed, driven by fear and pain.

So he wasted no time in making his way to the borders, only after ensuring that Finley and their three puppies were comfortable and that she wouldn't mind his brief absence. He loped across the uneven terrain, a smile pulling at the corners of his lips as he approached and found not one, but three wolves there. Wildfire was being greeted -- more like tackled -- by Eljay, and nearby stood an agouti male who Elwood assumed was a friend of hers.

"How are you?" he asked warmly as he coasted to a stop, tail waving.