Heron Lake Plateau guiding light

Being in a place that smelled and felt so familiar was immensely comforting — enough that Kite managed a smile for her apple-eyed brother. “Maybe if I fell in, I’d be extra-super-duper still,” she quipped, poking out her tongue and attempting to cross her eyes at him to make him laugh. She did feel better, though she’d probably need a couple of days to really process her condition and what it meant. She’d have to adjust, just like Towhee had — and if her aunt could do it, so could she. She could still find a way to help the pack and be a good Redhawk.

She watched Eljay curiously, and when she looked at him, she didn’t see the anxiety or the uncertainty or the panic. She saw a perfect creature — who really did have the loveliest freckles! — and when he nuzzled lovingly at her face, something flip-flopped within her breast and made her feel shy. Slightly stunned, she hastened to lean forward and bathe his chin in kisses. “Th-Thanks, Eljay,” she said softly, utterly flummoxed, wondering what they’d added to him to make him less perfect. If there was any flaw in the green-eyed male, she couldn’t see it, but she didn’t say so.