Redhawk Caldera You don't have to be ruled by fate.

There was a call from behind him, and Elwood turned an ear back. He recognized Towhee's voice (which was soon accompanied by the sound of her paws hitting the ground as she ran towards him) but couldn't tear his gaze away from the landscape just yet. Only when she was alongside him did he blink and clear his vision and his thoughts, glancing down at his goddaughter.

"Hey, Towhee," he said. He wasn't at all surprised to find her at the borders, but her question was unexpected. He raised his brows as he briefly contemplated the query. He had fallen into leadership himself -- he hadn't anticipated the promotion that had been given to him by Fox and Peregrine, and then he and Finley had stepped up into the Alpha positions after the Redhawks' deaths. It had been more of a necessity than anything else at the time. The pack had needed leaders just as the newborns had needed parents.

"Well," he said, pausing in his forward stride so that he could turn towards Towhee and allow her to read his lips, "you have to be dedicated to your pack and to helping its members, first of all." There was a lot more to say, but he was interested in what other questions Towhee had and how they would guide their conversation.