Redhawk Caldera Throwback Thursday

His stomach felt hollow for even contemplating it and Elwood's answer did not exactly reassure him. Peregrine opened his mouth to tell the Beta to keep a close eye on his son when he, too, overheard Gannet offering to go looking for Finley with his cousin. Elwood pivoted and the Alpha followed suit, trying to catch his son's eye and shake his head. But Gannet was looking at Eljay and so Peregrine knew he had to speak up.

"That's right, Eljay. We need you here. Both of you," he said, including Gannet. "This pack can't afford for any more of its members to go out looking. Finley's out there, as well as Trick and Shrike. The rest of us need to stay put to support the pack. We need Eljay here to look after his brother and sister and we need you to help with hunting, patrolling and the like," he concluded, speaking mostly to Gannet there at the end.

"As a matter of fact, why don't we go do that? A patrol, I mean. C'mon." Although he knew Gannet had only been trying to console Eljay, he figured nothing good would come of it if they kept talking. He might only upset the older boy further. Peregrine gestured emphatically at the white juvenile to come along, then said, "We'll check in with you guys later." He gave both Elwood Sr and Jr a meaningful look and a tentative smile that did not reach his eyes before motioning at Gannet again and moving away from the Blackthorn lair.