Redtail Rise sanguine

She sensed an approach and heard his call.  It was an entreatment, nothing commanding or unfriendly about it, but she still paused only where she was.

The anger was what surprised her the most.  Redd was a fractured thing.  Redd had lost a mate, most of her closest confidants, and now her place here.  When she had been Wealda these things did not matter.  They could not touch her through the armor responsibility provided.  Wealda was so much bigger than heartache.

She understood.  A wolf who left, a wolf who did not fight, did not deserve to stand.  She had lost their trust on her own actions.  The anger persisted despite any understanding.  For the first time she did not think only of the pack.  Ulfhedinn and Berserker had earned this, and regardless of who won, deserved their rank.

Redd growled, attempting to release some of this ire while warning him of its presence.  When she turned towards him and caught his gaze, however, her own could not help but drop.  There was a pleading in her eyes.

Who am I, if the rise does not need me?