Dawnlark Plains couldn't get no silver, couldn't get no gold

Sunny was back. He hadn't had the chance to talk to the young man one-on-one just yet, though he'd seen him around the den where his new cousins rested, still nursing away ferociously. They were growing well, but the fear of things going belly-up was ever-present in the back of his mind. That the number of hunters in Morningside had dwindled so much frightened him, and he spent most of his time hunting these days; consequently, he had no time for conversation with anyone save his mate.

But it had to be done. Shale had not yet apologized for his behavior in the wake of Grayday's death, not to Sunny. It had been more than a moon since his nephew had left in the wake of Shale's manic, crazed state, and now that things had settled, it was time to make amends. Especially if they were to hunt together--you had to trust the wolves by your side, and he needed to make sure Sunny knew that he wasn't crazy. Not anymore.

The pups had restored him, brought to him a spark that had been missing since his last litter had died. Not that they were a replacement for the children he had lost--how could they be? No, they were perfect as they were, in their own way, separate entities from the quartet that had come before. He was so in love with them, so in love with being a father again that sometimes he thought his heart might burst when looking at them. For all the stress that came from keeping a family happy and fed, the tender little moments with his mate and pups made it all worth it.

But for all that perfection, it could be even better. That was why Shale wandered the plains now, letting out a low, crooning call for @Sunny, hoping that all could be forgiven, even if it took a little time.