Redhawk Caldera ✧

Hotah’s shoulders shook with a low laugh, rough around the edges but genuine. A marmot for membership, huh? That’s a hell of a deal. Guess I should’ve brought two, just to be safe. He set the little body down at her paws, a kind of peace offering, though his eyes lingered on hers a moment longer this time.
Her question settled in heavier. He drew in a slow breath, gaze sliding off toward the rim of the caldera, before settling on her so she could understand. Yeah… I was with a family once. Small. We weren’t much of a pack, more like holding on together. Didn’t last. His jaw worked, a flicker of something old in his expression. Hunters. Farmers. Guns, traps, poison—take your pick. They did the job.
He sighed. Been moving since then. Figured surviving on my own was all there was left. But winter’s coming, and I’ve had enough of ghosts for company. So here I am.
Hotah shrugged, trying to make it sound lighter than it was. And if all it costs is a marmot, I’ll keep the tab running.