Redhawk Caldera WSS: Prologue

While he could feel his heartbeat beginning to thud rapidly against his chest in anticipation of finally telling Alyx why he'd left, and potentially put at least some of her resentment to rest, he was completely distracted from the topic when she pulled her paw from the water and set it down- gingerly. He studied her features and his eyes narrowed in concern when she winced. While he'd been prepared to deliver probably one of the most poignant explanations of his life- it was forgotten completely in an instant when he saw that she was in pain. 

"Wait, What happened?" He asked, the fur at the back of his neck lifting slightly, as he immediately shifted into protective mode. "Is your foot okay? What happened" He asked urgently, leaning forward and angling his head to briefly glance at the offending ankle before his concerned, hyper-focused gaze returned to her face, reading her expression to see if she was holding anything back. 

While he had left the pack, travelled many miles and spent many months away from her, all it took was a simple wince for him to naturally resume his role as her knight in shining armour.