Redhawk Caldera i was war incarnate

tzar is still as she reaches out to touch her paw to his shoulder; still finding it a bit strange that he's looking at his grandmother but sees his mother looking back at him. still, there's a wisdom to his grandmother's expression that his mother's fierce, hawkish gaze did not hold — an experience that could only come from age.

tzar's paws are quiet, his tongue still. he does not dare speak for jr in her absence, is not the leading authority on how well she is or isn't holding up. she'd lost her husband and her other children ... he is the only surviving of her first litter. if she was falling apart inside, she had always been careful not to let him see.

-in part,- he answers in ptero, the sweeping motion of his paws slow. almost sheepish. -i wanted to come back ... but mom didn't want to ... but she didn't fuss when i insisted on coming back by myself.- a glimpse is cast over his shoulder where ghost perches. it was true enough, even if he had been tethered by invisible rope to ghost who haunts him from the skies when he isn't perched upon his shoulder. tzar hadn't known it at the time but it'd quickly became apparent as to why. she hadn't needed to. ghost was more than an adequate cubsitter, and jr definitely had the upper paw the whole time.

-but i was only allowed to come if i found you and asked if i could join the caldera... and, obviously, only if i took ghost with me.-