Spotted Eagle Mountain The weak breeze whispers nothing

He couldn't help but feel that Killdeer just wasn't willing to open up and be honest with him about how he really felt. All he did was try to assure his father that he was fine, which was dismissive, at best. The words were a shield his son was trying to put up. I'm fine, I'm fine. It wasn't the truth. The truth was hard, and maybe Killdeer just needed some time on his own to be vulnerable before feeling comfortable enough bringing that to him. The emotion that showed in his eyes was something that was honest, though. 

"Nahhh," Bronco exhaled, a forgiving, empathetic sound. He moved forward, and reached out with a steady forelimb to pull his son in for a firm hug. "I know. You're doing great, bud. This is tough stuff. Really, tough stuff. I'm prouder of you than anything else in the world." He said. "An' I love you, Varmint." he said, giving his son an extra squeeze.