taltos paused as peregrine did, and watched as his new leader sent the little wolf off with a fatherly warning. it had never been part of him to long for the conception and rearing of children, and so he was not envious of the male. it was touching to his heart to see the interaction between sire and offspring, nevertheless.
the devil spoke, and lasher heeded, words evading his lips even as he nodded silently and fell into step with peregrine. as he had said before, he would do what was needed of him; if the male intended him to be a hunter, then that is what he would do, though taltos fancied himself a hunter of souls rather than edible flesh.
the sun rose higher over the plateau and lasher found himself most pleased in the other's company, speaking when it was required of him as they moved in an inexorable rhythm toward the thrill of the hunt and the blood-slaking afterward.