Redhawk Caldera time after time

There was sympathy in her eyes, though her humour acted as a coping mechanism that suited the both of them. He feared still the possibility that he might die as his father had, of a latent infection that might steal him away in his sleep. He did not want to go peacefully, not when he had fought so hard for life. 

"I've been working on this look for years." He replied. "Was tryin' to make it a trend, but. Y'know." He said, and coughed lightly. His daughter looked up in concern, but he gave her a soft smile. Mobility issues made it more difficult for him to stay hydrated, and he'd begun to feel his throat dry out more and more. 

Bronco could see that Meerkat was a well, over-filled with Spring rain, fighting to keep everything within its brim. Bronte seemed to sense the same, and sat up. Meerkat choked out a statement that caused his heart to clench. Her daughter might not have survived had it not been all three of the wolves who had stepped in to fight. "And your husband saved mine," He said with a light twinkle in his tired eyes. 

Bronte looked to him, and he knew how she felt. At this age, the children shied away from the dry, boring talk of adults, but this time, he suspected Bronte sensed that her father and aunt had gone too long without having a deep conversation. She asked if he needed anything, and he nodded. "Some of that wet, mossy stuff," He said, his throat rasping. He cleared it, and gave her a kiss on the nose as she awkwardly but politely excused herself. 

He chuffed. "Her mother let me name two of the kids this year. And I l feel like "Bronte" was an OK choice, 'cause it's a combination of our names. But then I named one of our sons "Ponyboy" so I think I'm banned from naming kids from now on."