Redsand Canyon Now time for Plan A

Germanicus addressed his companion. Bronco didn’t catch the name but looked at the young man, who had the look of one who’d grown up faster than he should have. Athletic, strong, muscular- but still young. Too young to look so austere, and without a doubt, trained to be loyal above all else. 

And beside them, his son. The next in line to be trained.

Had Bronco not been a humbled wolf he might have been angry with being belittled. It irked him, but he also realized the mistake he’d made. He’d leapt to assumptions, and had made himself look like a fool. His gaze fell and he frowned grimly. 

He shook his head. ”I-“ But Killdeer cut him off. He sighed softly, lifting his soft gaze to his son, grateful for the boy’s bravery and loyalty. Killdeer knew him for who he was- and he affirmed the boy’s claim with a slow blink and a gentle shake of his head. Bronco could cause no more harm than a gadfly. 

But it seemed that Killdeer wanted more from life, and had more ambition for adventure than his father, and it made Bronco’s heart ache. He did feel relieved, now, in hearing that they weren’t in fact a battalion of wolves headed off for a full out battle, but he was still not without concern. The military mindset wasn’t just something Bronco didn’t have, it was something he didn’t agree with as well. And now, it seemed, this was the lifestyle his son wanted.

The wasp’s nest of anxious thoughts in his mind has quieted, now that he’d been informed. It didn’t quite neutralize his shame, but at least he felt himself drifting from his near-hysteric outcries. 

”I’m sorry. I…I assumed. I heard “military, troops, emergency.” He shook his head. ”As you can probably tell by the look of me, I’m….Used to assuming the worst.” He said quietly. ”I gave everything I could, to protect him and his Mom, when he was young.” He said. Those memories haunted him still, but he would believe adamantly until the day that he died, that he’d done the right thing, even if it ended up costing him his relationship.

”Killdeer…If this is what you want…” He couldn’t stop him. He couldn’t help him, or protect him either now, considering the likelihood that he’d be marked as an unwelcome visitor. ”I’ll always be in your corner.” He promised.  He looked to the military leader again, and bowed his head.

 ”I’ll be respectful of your boundaries.” He murmured. He wouldn’t make Killdeer choose, not when he already had enough to deal with following the splitup between his parents. Nor would he aggravate the leader Killdeer chose to follow by hanging about. He felt crushing defeat begin to settle in.