Blacktail Deer Plateau retrospective

Do you two want to fade this to black here? I don't wanna power play Houkie's character too much, since she hasn't had the chance to post the thread and any details yet. I just wanted to drop this incident somewhere in the timeline.

"Yes, my brother," he said quietly before facing the black Alpha female, "and Willow's betrothed." As he spoke, he glided closer to Blue Willow, his nose touching the collar of soft fur around her neck. "I'm so sorry, Willow. I wish I could say it's okay because he's alive but... well, you'll see," he finished sorrowfully, exhaling a shaky breath.

It seemed neither woman was much concerned about whatever spat they'd been having prior to his arrival. Peregrine nodded his head gratefully. They would deal with it... later. Right now, his brother's state was a huge concern. Atticus was a cornerstone of the pack. And if he was permanently handicapped by this affliction, how would the pack look after him? It was already clear to Peregrine they'd lost their Beta male.

"Oh, Willow..." the Alpha male said mournfully at the Healer's response, even as he nudged both her and Fox to follow him back to where he'd left Atticus with Osprey Jr. "Atticus had fallen in love with you. As his brother, I feel like I can say that with authority. He cared for you very deeply. This... was just an accident, a horrible freak accident. And maybe..." Maybe we can help him, he thought but couldn't bring himself to say it aloud, not wanting to give himself or Blue Willow false hope until she'd at least had the chance to see him.

Falling silent, he loped swiftly back toward the plateau's edge. He couldn't help but remember one of his last conversations with his brother, where he'd offered to let Atticus and Blue Willow take over as the Alpha pair when the time came. Now that time would never come. He felt desolately certain that, even if Atticus recovered, he wouldn't ever be quite the same wolf after this. The thought made his heart sink and sit like a stone in the pit of his stomach.