Firestone Hot Springs Good Sleep, a Bath and a Glass of Wine [M]

After spending some time with Lasher this afternoon, Peregrine decided to patrol the borders. He couldn't help but think of Atticus as he made his rounds. Would his brother ever guard again? The Alpha male swallowed thickly. Atticus hadn't even had the chance to fully earn his Warden title yet before the accident had seemingly taken everything away.

While he mentally grappled with his brother's condition, Peregrine paused and gazed vaguely into the neutral territories. In the distance, he saw a wolf across the river, walking in the direction of the hot springs. His gaze followed her absently. The fur along his back prickled uncomfortably when he noticed the wolf's strange, sluggish weave, even from afar. Then he disappeared from his view.

With thoughts of his ill brother still floating in his head—not to mention memories of witnessing his fall from a distance—Peregrine picked his way down to the flat lands, then waded through a shallow bend in the river. He loped into the fragrant hot springs, eyes, nose and ears combing for any sign of the stranger. What if he's sick? What if he's contagious? he thought, his lips pursing.

Then he found the wolf, who turned out to be female. "Are you all right?" he asked, walking slowly toward the prostrate figure, his black ears pinning backward. He sniffed the rainy air, which smelled of sulfur but no scent of illness or infection, at least that he could detect.