Redtail Rise a path remembered

White Feather spied Winter Hawk’s red agouti pelt against the snow from her watching place. She descended the craggy scrabble to meet him, the effort of his long journey evident by the clouds of hot breath that snaked from his mouth.

Her amber gaze flicked across his features and searched for any light — but there was only gloom to greet her. They reconnected as his baritone voice uttered a noise, and she is solemn. They became quiet together. Dark Spine, for all his power, was also injured… and thus his outcome was dark, at best. Their first victory had become bittersweet.

She reached out to nibble at the fringe of Winter Hawk’s coat. A tender, comforting gesture for the both of them.

Stay, her spirit said.

For she remembered how Cloud Dancer and Grim Tooth often departed their claim — and she did not wish the same for them. Wolves of the Rise did not chase ghosts.