Redhawk Caldera going through life

Elwood, too, was patrolling -- for the first time in quite a while. He missed the pups when he wasn't with them, but it was still nice to be earning back a bit of his freedom. They still needed their parents for sustenance and protection, but they were becoming more and more independent, which meant that Elwood was able to gradually settle back into his role as Beta male.

He circled around the outskirts of the caldera, keeping the slope at his shoulder, and when he spotted Eljay's lanky figure ahead he barked. He accelerated, closing the gap between himself and his eldest son. "You patrolling?" he asked, happy to see the boy out and about -- and so close to the edge of the territory. He and Finley had given up the battle of trying to convince him that the outside world wasn't dangerous, and he was learning to be content with Eljay's quirks. And it was also a good sign that Eljay was working, and not dwelling on the whole Peter situation anymore.