Firestone Hot Springs Memories Fade

Since he was already so far out this way, Peregrine decided, What the hell? and began loping further northwest. Although he and Dante had spoken not too long ago, he was fairly certain he still wasn't welcome at the plateau. Honestly, he no longer had any desire to go there anyway. But there were wolves there—one in particular—that he hadn't seen in far too long. Their last encounter had been rather distraught too. Peregrine wanted to catch up and make amends.

He had just broken from the treeline and was preparing to cross the river when the wind picked up, flirting through the silky black fur at his nape and whispering sweet things about spring. Peregrine paused and tipped his snout into the breeze, sifting for scents. His jade eyes nearly popped when he caught one that was not only familiar, it belonged to the wolf he'd come all this way to see. He broke into a hasty trot.

"Willow!" he shouted as he came closer to the familiar hot springs. "Hey," he said a bit more quietly but emphatically as he closed the gap between them. Peregrine paused, unsure of how his presence would be received. "I've missed you. I'm sorry about last time." His mind briefly replayed that scene from last November. "I was beside myself when I finally learned the truth. But things have changed. Dante and I have made amends. And I'm no longer determined to keep the plateau wolves at a distance." He stopped there, eyes searching her face.