Redtail Rise wildcard

Riley tensed alongside Masque as a familiar face appeared -- the visage of Masque's sister.

There was no warmth to that gaze - no sweep of concern or familiarity. Riley felt something bitter crack open in him: if it had been him in Redd's shoes and Wyatt or Piper in Masque's, he would have been overjoyed to see them. He would have rushed forward to embrace them and breathe in their pelt, ask them where they had been, if they were okay. Both had left him without a word one day -- and while it had been years, from time to time he wondered if they were even still alive.

His mate spoke, apologizing. He felt a pulse in his temple and a grit in his teeth. Masque's eyes were adverted, but Riley's were on Redd -- studying her with a removed sense of heartsickness. It curdled his blood to see Masque received without any semblance of love -- and in Riley's eyes, Masque deserved love more than any other wolf on the Rise.