Redhawk Caldera Catharsis

Peregrine's high emotions caused Shrike to go back into whatever little shell he had, and he more or less ignored the hostility he showed toward Sassafrass, and tuned out the alpha male's anger. Concentration was becoming increasingly more difficult as he focused primarily on keeping himself calm and tried to will away the sick feelings that were creeping up inside of him. He swallowed back spittle and only really responded when Peregrine asked him why he'd brought the corpse back, and if he'd known it was poisonous. He had- but truth be told, he didn't think he would have gotten it himself. He'd been as careful as possible while dragging her body, not to bite down too hard...But her body was heavy and it must have happened, either that or he'd inadvertantly come into contact with her spittle or blood. 

"Didn't think." He said, his voice cut off not by a lack of an answer, but by another round of coughs, and he averted his muzzle as quickly as he could, lest he should spray some spittle in their direction. Into the elbow, not on the paws, as he might have been taught in preschool, had he ever gone. He didn't think he'd actually get poisoned. He didn't think about what effect her corpse might have on their pack members. There were many things he didn't think about- he'd been overcome by the need to fulfill his task. "Needed it done. Wanted you to see." He said. He wouldn't have been satisfied with just leaving her body there. "Body might've poisoned the lake she was near. Dunno." He said, knowing it was a lame excuse, but it had passed his mind. 

Again, Sassafrass insisted that she come with him and his silver gaze was lifted to hers, noticing for perhaps the first time how valiant a young wolf she was. And when Peregrine smashed his paw across the wolf's face, sending a spatter of blood and spittle around, Shrike winced, instinctively turning his head away so as to avoid coming into contact with the female's fluids again, and cleared his throat. He didn't want to say it, but Peregrine was almost at the end of reason, and with his own life straggling, he felt no fear. What he wanted to say, was this:

It won't bring Peter back.

But he couldn't. There was a tremor in Peregrine's voice, and he couldn't do it. Though he didn't hold back due to fear, he chose to avoid those words not for his own safety- as it mattered very litle now- but out of compassion. He looked up to the alpha, those words lingering in his sad gaze before he sighed gently. He stood but did not make a move toward the corpse. Peregrine stood over it too protectively, and he could not try to take it from the alpha; he would need Peregrine to come to reason and give it up.

"Keep the pack safe." He said. "She dead." He repeated. "Pack's safe. Now she's gotta go." He said. "Me too."