Blacktail Deer Plateau Tomorrow's not ours to share

Finally, Hawkeye broke her silence, telling Pied not to apologize. She seemed disappointed about her friend's inevitable and unexpected departure, though she expressed genuine happiness for her newfound love. She reminded the piebald wolf of how special she was and spoke of the daughter Pied had dreamed about a few months ago. She finished by mentioning she'd visit. All the while, Pied found the smile on her face growing broader, heartened by her Alpha's selflessness.

"Thank-you, Hawkeye," Pied murmured, "for everything. You're a good friend. I hope we remain friends for a long time—forever," she amended mid-sentence. A though struck her then and she grinned a bit mischievously. "I'll just have to play matchmaker and convince Akhlut to win you over and drag you back to the ridge too. Then we can be one big, happy family." She meant it as a joke, yet Pied moved the idea onto the back burner in her mind, where it simmered...

"Will you howl with me, to announce the news to the members of the plateau? I want to tell them about Kisu and let them know of what's happening," Pied asked gently in the next moment, moving nearer to Hawkeye and thrusting her pale muzzle against the side of the large she-wolf's furry neck.