Blacktail Deer Plateau [j] the night's watch

The Alpha did not leave them waiting much longer, appearing at the edge of the plateau and trotting forth to meet them. Peregrine had sunk to his haunches but he rose now, nudging Crete to do the same. As Hawkeye approached, he kept his head and tail at an even keel, particularly because she didn't seem to want to bother with posturing.

"He's my brother, actually," Peregrine replied matter-of-factly. "I've told him he'll find a home here." He didn't ask, simply giving Hawkeye a pointed look that said, If you turn him away, you lose me too. "He was born mute but he's excellent at communicating in other ways. He's sharp as a tack and can contribute in any way you need." While making his case for Crete's acceptance, the swarthy Sigma maintained a brusque tone and stony face.

However, he paused momentarily and let a smile—the first of its kind since he'd met Hawkeye—slowly turn up the corners of his maw before he finished off his brother's curriculum vita by saying, "And he's packing, if you know what I mean." Peregrine winked a dusky blue-green eye and snickered lightly in Crete's direction, since part of the fun was knowing his brother couldn't even protest.