Redhawk Caldera mapleheart

In spite of the seriousness in her words, the way she crossed both of her paws over one of his made him smile. Effortlessly, with each tiny gesture she captivated his attention, distracting him from the real conversation at hand. A moment later, though, the message was finally processed from his ears and into his brain, where he realized she was hinting something. He looked up, to see something shimmering in her eyes, like a piece of metal under shallow waters. 

The ambition to lead a pack had long since left him, smashed below the tumbling rocks of the landslide in Firefly Glen. Something cracked by pressure and grief and had driven his ambitious mother to her own death. His father had died defending the pack, Hydra had died on her mountain. With responsibility came the chance that he too might have to sacrifice everything for his pack-

-but when he thought about it for a moment, that was already something he was willing to do. But it might not be the case here, not where it was peaceful and protected. The thought of leaving it all to Teya frightened him more than what might happen to him, if he was to step up. 

He clumsily wiggled his other front foot in, alongside the one she already clasped, and nodded. "Alright," He said, with a faint smile. "I'll lead with you."