Redhawk Caldera how swiftly you dismiss our love...

The Gamma seemed a bit taken aback by Peregrine's little stunt, yet the Alpha only smiled and nodded at him. He trusted Shrike and, moreover, Shrike's judgment. This was his call. To his credit, he seemed to take it quite seriously and began weighing some logic aloud. Peregrine listened, nodding subtly and shooting Teagan sideways glances every few seconds. He couldn't be taken at his word, which didn't bode well, but then jokes were subjective. Maybe Peregrine would have found them hilarious. But Teagan's fate rested in Shrike's hands, not his own, and that was just his luck.

"That sounds fair and reasonable to me. What did you have in mind?" Peregrine wondered for Teagan's sake as well as his own. "Anything he asks of you," he said, speaking directly to the stranger now, "you'll be expected to do if you really want to prove yourself and make it into our ranks. And trust me, it'll be worth your while." The Redhawks were a close-knit, eclectic bunch who looked out for their own. If Teagan made the cut, they would take good care of him.