in this world it's hard to get it right.

Elwood, too, had a head full of thoughts after a conversation with Peregrine. It was not his intention to seek out Finley any time soon -- rather, he planned to give it a couple of days so that they could both have some space, presumably to think things through. Apologies were imminent, but there was so much scar tissue already developing beneath the surface; to force a friendship too soon would surely just cause more damage.

The universe, of course, had different plans for them. Redhawk Caldera was not an overly large territory, and while Finley did not mind venturing beyond its boundaries, Elwood wanted to stay put. After the brief few hours he had spent thinking he would be forced to leave, he was thankful for each nook and cranny of the squat mountain and its surrounding foothills. Just the act of pressing his paws into the soft earth was enough to bring him relief.

He closed his eyes as he meandered, tilting his face to the sun. With effort, he let his mind go blank. He could almost imagine a resolution to all of this; Peregrine had confidence that things would work out one way or the other. Either way, he felt better knowing that the end would not involve his exile. He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with crisp morning air --

-- and stopped in his tracks. Finley's scent swam into his nostrils, and his heart immediately plummeted to his feet. Wildly, he looked around; his gaze settled on a familiar grey figure, curled up next to an offshoot of a larger stream. His first reaction was to turn and run, but he knew there was no way he could get away with that, so he took a slow step backward. Immediately, he stepped on a dry limb strewn across his path; there was a resounding crack, and Elwood winced, his ears flattening to his head.