Redtail Rise vermillion

this day had been anticipated and now it had come.

blood star commanded that the prongs of his split attention be placed back upon the rise. mountain boulder followed her gaze toward the bloodwood but when it returned, his eyes did not rest upon the rise but upon herself.

pose careful, his rejoinder was to stride toward one of thorn caller's marks, to snuffle its scent on the ground. 

a threat. 

a light one, albeit one which blood star had handled, but pups had been killed in the wilds for less. he could not convey this fear of reality to her — not yet. 

but his stare moved now to where red woman had fallen, and the heavy shoulders stiffened. the broad tongue swept over his jaws and he accepted blood star's dominion — over him.

he would stay, and sank his claws into the earth to punctuate. but new snow would make her own choice of where to den, and be it outside the rise he would encourage a replacement for his rank, for he considered flame stalker was near ready to take a more present role in hunts.

and their future too, might be here. even if mountain boulder felt fiercely of the coming season. again he vacillated, but this time it was only for them. if he did not choose, their delicate peace might be broken again. and so he agreed, a decision that did not soothe the large man but might settle far more in number than himself. 

the yellow eyes were on wealda once more.