Redhawk Caldera Back before children had settled her friends

Morning had been spent on the usual work — checking caches, nosing along the borders, pulling his weight. But by the time the sun had begun its lazy slide down toward the ridges, Hotah’s thoughts weren’t on patrols or marmots or anything practical.
They were on Trailhawk.
He padded through the Caldera with a little more purpose than usual, dark ears pricked as he searched for her pale coat among the brush and rock. It was strange, thinking of a hunt like a “date,” but he found himself liking the idea more than he’d expected. A chance to run, to work alongside her again, maybe even laugh about it after.
@Trailhawk? he called softly as he paused near one of the game trails, nose testing the air. You around?
There was a faint grin tugging at his muzzle, boyish in a way he didn’t often let slip.