Redhawk Caldera Ayo

Peregrine found himself facing north. His body was firmly planted on one of the caldera's outcroppings, yet his mind and heart were several miles away, on the plateau to be specific. He wondered how Osprey was doing this morning... and what would become of her and her pups. He shifted restlessly, wishing he could be by her side but knowing that he was where he belonged. His mate and pups needed him more than Osprey did. She was a big girl. Still...

He rose, padding down the mountainside to start a patrol. He tried to clear his mind or at least focus on something else. A certain pale face drifted across his mind's eye and Peregrine decided to focus on that. Maybe Luke would drop by sometime soon, maybe even today. His blue schnoz would be a sight for sore eyes and a very welcome distraction. Besides, the swarthy Alpha wanted to apologize again for cutting their time so short last time and leaving so abruptly.

But whether it was Luke or one of his many well-liked pack mates that arrived, he just wanted to see someone so he could stop obsessing over the fate of his sister, nieces and nephews.

I was going to start us a thread today, but this will do!

Most of Luke's pursuits were capricious in nature. He often walked a path just to see where it would go, believing that no matter where it lead it was better to have explored it than not. It was an adventure to him, and adventures as he saw them were the foundation of an interesting, rewarding life in which one could grow and play. It was this impulsive character that had first lead the blue-nosed wolf to look upon Peregrine with some degree of lascivious consideration, when it was made known that the dark Alpha was open to his own gender. Peregrine was the first man Luke had met with the potential to go further than basic friendship and so Luke was decidedly curious, having never had the chance to explore his same-sex attractions before.

Inquisitiveness aside, there was more to draw him to Peregrine than mere wonder. Luke could not deny that there was an allure to the swarthy male, borne from the power of his rule, the strong curve of his muscles, and prepossessing personality. Luke was captivated, but among his thoughts was also concern. It had been a few days since he last spoke with Peregrine, and while he wanted to see his companion's charming face he also wanted to know how he had fared with Osprey. So on this morning he woke and jogged purposefully to the Caldera, not allowing himself to be distracted or delayed.

When he arrived he did not immediately spot Peregrine on patrol, and refusing to set a paw across the borders he instead halted at them, howling softly for his friend.

When Luke's soft howl rose up in the air, Peregrine paused wonderingly. Was this some sort of sign? His companion's timing was impeccable. Lips already twitching into a smile, he turned (for Luke's call had sounded from a stretch of border he'd already passed) and began trotting eagerly toward the blue-nosed male.

"Luke!" he called out as he neared the other wolf. His heart jumped into his throat. "Hey." He sounded a bit out of breath as he drew up near the other male. He nudged Luke's shoulder. "I'm glad you came. I wanted to apologize again for rushing off last time. If you're free for a few hours, I'd love to make it up to you." He didn't mean to imply anything by those words, though as they sprang off his tongue, Peregrine found himself laughing at the way they sounded.

As soon as his eyes fell on the handsome shadow that was Peregrine coming toward him, Luke's tail started to swing with abandon. And there it was: that ineffable excitement he felt in the company of this particular wolf. "Perry!" he called back, grinning from ear to ear. As Peregrine closed the distance, nudging his shoulder, Luke turned into him and gave his cheek a lick. "Hey," he echoed as he gazed upon that chiseled face. Immediately when Peregrine spoke of wanting to apologize again he wanted to respond telling him not to, but he did not interrupt and in the next moment found himself laughing along with the other male, having heard the words in the same amusing way.

"Well you could at least take me out to dinner first," Luke joked playfully, bumping his shoulder against Peregrine. "But hey, I don't want to hear anymore of this apologizing business," he quickly commented. If Luke could waggle a finger at Peregrine he would have done so now, but the sentiment was passed in the high-browed look he gave and the tilt of his muzzle. "I told you, you don't need to apologize. I understand and I was not offended in the least. If I had been in your paws I would have done the same thing," he gave a definitive nod and smiled. "Now it just so happens I am free for a few hours."

Luke wanted to ask about Osprey, but held his tongue, letting the reins go to Peregrine and what he might have in mind.

Peregrine smiled broadly and laughed, his worries momentarily forgotten in Luke's company. "Dinner? I can do that," he said airily. "Although... breakfast or brunch seems more appropriate, given the hour," he added with a chortle. "I'd be happy to treat, for real. I'll hunt for you, if you're down for that?" He had almost proposed fetching something from a cache but, much as he liked Luke, he wasn't about to dip into the pack's supplies for a loner.

But nor did he particularly want to hunt with one, either; that was against his principles too. "I have an idea, actually. How about I call my wife here so you can meet her while I go and fetch the three of us breakfast?" Just in case that seemed like it came out of left field, Peregrine explained, "She wants to meet you—and I'd like you two to meet—before... anything happens between us. So, does that sound like a plan? After we eat, I'll steal you away," he finished, just in case Luke was also looking forward to more one-on-one time.

Luke was both surprised by Peregrine's offer and charmed. No one had hunted for him since he was a pup that depended on it. Even if the blue-nosed wolf had known that the offer stemmed from a personal code barring Peregrine from sharing his pack's caches or hunting with a loner, it would not have bothered him and he still would have been happy to accept it. In fact, Luke would have understood perfectly the need of an Alpha to look out for his pack, and would have admired Peregrine's steadfastness in that duty.

"I'm down for that," Luke replied, but in the next moment Peregrine was adding to that plan. The white wolf felt his breath catch, not at the thought of meeting this man's wife, but at the phrase before anything happens between us and the promise to steal him away after they ate. It sent a warm tingle down his spine, and his mind tried to run away with any number of thoughts, but Luke reigned it in and gently cleared his throat. "Sounds like a plan," he grinned, "I'd like to meet this girl of yours." It was true: however eager he was to have Peregrine to himself, to walk further down this new trail, he also would like to meet his comapnion's mate.

He expected Luke, the gregarious extrovert that he was, to enjoy the opportunity to meet @Fox. Peregrine's tail waved when his proposal was met with enthusiasm. His dusky jade eyes showed his pleasure as he gave the other wolf a companionable nudge. He then turned away from Luke to avoid howling directly into his ear when he summoned Fox.

"There's a chance she might not be able to come, if she can't arrange for a sitter on short notice. But that usually isn't a problem," the Alpha said before tossing his head back and politely requesting his fellow Alpha's company. When the message had been issued, he then pivoted back toward Luke. "While we wait... I wanted to tell you I did catch up with Osprey. She looks terribad but, considering the circumstances, she's lucky if exhaustion is the worst of her problems."

Fox's head tilted to one side when she heard Peregrine's call. For a moment, she wondered if something was wrong... but his voice hadn't been anxious, so she set that thought aside. Luckily for her, Dove had been visiting, and her sister graciously offered to watch the kids while Fox ran and took care of... well, whatever it was Perry wanted to talk to her about. After kissing each of the Firebirds on the top of their fuzzy (and quickly growing) heads, Fox dashed out of the den and toward the source of her lover's voice.

It didn't take her quick little feet long to scamper across the landscape, kicking up fresh spring dirt as she did so. When she arrived, Peregrine was standing next to a white male she did not know. Her first instinct (which was the one she tended to follow) was that this was a recruit, and for some reason Perry had found it important that Fox be here, too. "Hey Pear," she greeted her mate with a lick to his cheek. "Who's this?" Of course, if she'd had half a memory, she would have realized this was the blue-nosed interest Peregrine had been talking about previously.

Kris asked me to post out of order, since it makes the most sense. You two are welcome to go back and forth a few rounds, then tag me when you're ready for Perry to return! :)

They chatted about Osprey a bit further, though Peregrine didn't want to dwell on the subject very long. It made him feel powerless. Luckily, Fox was rather prompt. Peregrine turned and watched as the orange speck on the mountainside slowly took on the features of his young, pretty wife. He tried to look at her as Luke might see her now, a lovely stranger. When she drew near, he returned her lick, then stood beside her, the two of them facing Luke as a pair.

"Fox, I want you to meet Luke. Luke, this is my mate, Mrs. Fox Redleaf-DiSarinno," the dark Alpha introduced the two of them. To Fox, he said, "I really wanted you to meet him. I was also going to go fetch the three of us something to eat while you two get to know each other... if that's okay?" Assuming his mate didn't raise any red flags about this, the Gamekeeper slipped away with the promise to round up something very tasty for the twosome.

Luke was relieved to hear that other than looking worse for wear Osprey was ok, and he expressed that sentiment to Peregrine. Knowing that some pack's could be very strict about such a breach in wolf law, it was comforting to know that exhaustion was her primary foe. There are those who have met banishment or even death (of themselves or their pups) when there was an illegitimate conception. This was especially prevalent in lean times or in places where survival was a fiercer struggle. From what Luke had seen of it so far, the park seemed bountiful in food and shelter, so perhaps the pack had been lenient because they were able to be.

Peregrine's mate was swift in response. Luke wore a smile as he watched the red-furred female approach, the two of them standing before him after lovingly greeting one another. They were something of an odd pair. Peregrine, tall and rugged with dark pelt, and Fox, very small and strikingly red. But Luke found the contrast fetching. As Peregrine introduced him to her, he bowed his head and his smile broadened, his tail wagging behind him as usual. "I can't imagine where you got your name," he joked warmly as Peregrine left to hunt for them both.

Fox nodded when Peregrine slipped away to grab the trio some food, and the Alpha turned her attention to Luke. "Really?" she teased, "I always thought it was pretty damn obvious." Cue short pause to change subjects. "So, what’s your story?" Because if he couldn't give her that, there was little chance they could bond over anything at all. Or... did they need to bond? Fox was still pretty clumsy when it came to bringing another lover into the circle she shared so closely with Peregrine.

In the meantime, the little redhead plopped her butt to the ground and pricked her ears forward. She wondered where he'd gotten his decidedly unique coloring. He looked a bit like a blue-footed booby. Something told her that calling him a booby wasn't the greatest way to make a first impression, so she held her tongue on that comment.

Luke grinned at Fox's response. It was something the pair had in common: a name derived from an obvious source, though in Luke's case it was his surname Bluenose. Most surnames were passed through the generations (and indeed, this is how Luke came to possess his), but the Bluenose surname was created along the way by the first wolf to sport the trademark piece on the end of his muzzle.

She asked his story, and the white wolf seated himself after her to share a summary of his background. "I was born to a Beta pair in the north," he began with a soft smile. "From a young age I had the want to explore and find my own place in the world. My mother gave me the nudge I needed to leave, and I never looked back when I did. I've been traveling now for about a year and a half." That was it in a nutshell, as the blue-nosed wolf spared her the darker details of his sister's death and how it had stayed his departure. Luke was a fairly open wolf but unless asked he would rather not speak of the worst in his past.

Anticipating the next question, which several before Fox had already asked, the white wolf continued after a brief pause. "I don't know yet if I will join a pack somewhere or start something of my own. I'm not much of a planner, you see," he chuckled softly.

Luke's story wasn't particularly heartbreaking, sad, or thrilling, but Fox found that she was perfectly okay with that. In fact, it was a nice break from a lot of the sob stories she'd heard. The bit about him being a planner rang true for Fox as well. "I've found that things tend to fall into place whether you'd like them to or not," she replied, "My background is much the same, and I found myself leading a pack when the previous Alpha threw herself into the river to end her own life." Fox hadn't thought of Lethe in a long time, though the woman's actions would not be forgotten. Without that turn of events, Fox wouldn't be where she was today.

"In case it wasn't obvious, you seem pretty alright. If you and Perry want to get frisky, I won't get in the way." Blunt, as always. Fox wasn't sure if she found Luke attractive or not. She'd spent so much of her time being wooed by Peregrine that she barely noticed the physical beauty of others any longer. Perry was her lifelong mate, for better or for worse, through thick and thin. "Anything you want to know about me?" she asked, opening the door to any questions Luke might have.

Fox was rather nonchalant about the suicide of her former Alpha, in a way that reminded him of himself, and he lightly bobbed his head as he listened. The past was in the past, clinging to any emotion that may have been present at the time was a good way to spoil the future as he saw it, and indeed had experienced himself. Peregrine's fiery girl spoke the truth about how things fell into place, some might even say that things happen for a reason. Luke found that it was a comforting way to look at things, to keep optimistic that it will all work out in the end.

Her next statement brought another grin to his face and a wag of his tail, both that she thought he was pretty alright and that he and Peregrine could have a bit of fun if they so choose. "Thanks," he said. When asked if there was anything he'd like to know about her, he was quiet for a few moments as he considered. She had given him a brief overview of her background, and he had no real burning questions that he needed answered. He did however have a something he was curious about. "Well," he began with a smile. "I am curious. Is this a common thing for you two, to have extra fun on the side?"

Luke was intrigued by the idea of an open relationship like theirs. He could see himself enjoying such a thing if he were ever to find a mate, as Luke was a very affectionate sort. He was also not certain if Peregrine's former male lover had been on the side or if it had been a more monogamous affair and he wondered at that too.

"Hm," Fox mused, pausing to consider the question. "Peregrine had a lover named Lasher before we got together." Another pause for dramatic effect and to gauge Luke's reaction. Did he even know about Lasher? "Then I came around, and I thought it was a bit odd, but I never saw the guy as competition… so there was no need for me to interfere." Fox sighed, wondering if things might've been different if she'd gotten involved with Lasher as well. It was probably for the best that they hadn't, though. "We didn’t end up getting along as well as I’d hoped, mainly because Lasher failed to treat me like a leader." Fox would never understand why he had undermined her that one time (isn't that what he'd done?), but it was far in the past now.

"Personally, I haven’t picked up any side girlfriends yet. Not sure that I will." Fox had come to learn that she was extremely picky when it came to ladies (and let's be honest, dudes as well). There were a few here and there that she'd been attracted to, but they had left since then. Which was probably for the best. Who knew if Fox could even handle a second relationship?

@Peregrine you can hop back in anytime, thinks I!

She had answered not only the question he asked, but the question he wondered at: if Peregrine had been in a monogamous relationship with another man or if the other fellow was taken on the side. It was a bit of both, and she even shared whom this other male was: Lasher, his earthen companion who had been stalking the elk monarch. It was inconsequential to him at this time if Lasher had been Peregrine's former's lover, although it did cause a curious wonder to enter his mind. But his nonchalance was well practiced and so his expression did not reveal this. Luke merely smiled, and bobbed his head along with the rest of what she had to say.

"I can't deny I find it intriguing," he shared. "I could see me enjoying an open relationship like this." His tail swished on the ground.

He had wanted to fell something more impressive, like a deer, but practicality overruled him and Peregrine eventually returned with a pair of rabbits dangling from his jaws. He smiled around their ears, dropping one in front of Fox and the other in front of Luke. He then chose a spot that would form a triangle between the three of them, jade eyes flicking curiously from his mate's face to Luke's peculiarly colored nose.

"So, how are things coming along?" he asked. Fox had never gotten on that well with Lasher, though Luke was very different. Perhaps she would like him more and give the two males her blessing to get a little side action going.

"He’s got my stamp of approval," Fox replied, licking her lips at the sight of the snack Peregrine had brought with him. He did have a way of making her want food all the time, dammit. It was amazing that she hadn't gained fifty pounds since shacking up with the guy. Unless you wanted to count the kids, but seeing as they were no longer attached, she was pretty sure that didn't count any longer. With that said, she dove in to her own meal, tearing flesh from bone and eating as quickly as her body would allow.

She wasn't sure if things with Luke would be anything like they had been with Lasher, but she hoped they wouldn't be. Not that Lasher had been terrible, but she just hoped that Luke would understand that just because he was boinking the alpha didn't mean he got special privileges outside of that. That was the main sticking point with Perry's former lover, and not something Fox would let go of easily.

Luke's ear swiveled to the sound of Peregrine's return, and then his head turned so that his gaze could meet him, falling upon the two rabbits that draped from his jaws. He smiled, tail thumping the ground the black Alpha rejoined them, tossing a rabbit to them each and inquiring how their little chat had gone. Fox's approval caused his warm smile to break into a delighted grin as a blue-padded paw hooked the rabbit closer. "You have a lovely wife," he said to Peregrine, but turned his head to wink at her.

The blue-nosed wolf took one of the rabbit's hind legs between his teeth, and wrenched it free from his body, then with a paw nudged it back toward Peregrine. "You said you were going to get all three of us breakfast," he said, implying that he should not let Luke and Fox hog all the delicious rabbit. "Oh, and thank you." His tail thumped.

The initial reports were intensely positive. "Goody!" he replied to his wife's statement, then he winked at Luke in return and replied, "I know, right?" He then settled back to give them a few moments to enjoy their repasts. When Luke offered him a leg, he shook his head and mouthed, Too excited to eat, and then winked again.

Peregrine was not about to ask Fox to make like a tree and leave, even though there was part of him that certainly looked forward to stealing Luke away for some long-awaited time alone. Instead, he stretched out between the two of them and asked, "How's the rabbit? I dipped it in some honey on my way back," he joked.

Fox batted a paw and feigned bashfulness at Luke's comment. "Lovely" was probably the last word most would use to describe her. Her body was littered with scars, and she hadn't been particularly beautiful to begin with. Fox was more scrappy and tomboyish than "lovely" any day of the week. Still, the unwarranted compliment was appreciated, if only because Fox lived to be showered with nice words. Fox was a haughty creature, and that was something not likely to change.

"Liar, liar, pants on fire!" Fox replied when Peregrine said he'd dipped the rabbits in honey. "Have you even had honey, honey?" Fox's own father had given her some as a girl, and she would never forget the taste of it. Sickeningly sweet and sticky. So much so that it had clung to her paws for days afterward. Hell, she and Finley had even tried to track down some of the sweet stuff, but they'd been unsuccessful. Honey was one of those things you happened upon by wonderful chance, not something you went looking for.

Luke merely grinned and swished his tail as Peregrine refused his offering. The excitement was palpable. The blue-nosed wolf was more interested in his attractive black companion than he was eating, but he ate anyway, not about to let a rabbit that had been hunted for him go unappreciated. Besides, he was hungry, even if there was another sort of hunger that was more pressing than the acidic burn of an empty stomach.

He laughed at both the Alpha's comments, throwing his own joke into the mix. "How sweet of you," Luke winked. He had tasted honey once, and had shared the story of that misadventure with Vienna on the shore one day. But the question was directed at Peregrine, and so Luke's eyes turned to him for the answer before he would speak again.

"I've tasted your honey," Peregrine rejoined without missing a beat, leering playfully at Fox. He almost thought about making a crass comment about tasting Luke's too but he decided it was too soon. He did turn to the other male and say, "I know, right? You're welcome." He puckered his lips, then dissolved into laughter.

Because of his nervous energy, Peregrine pushed himself onto all fours and began to pad in an arc near the other two. "Think I should take him to one of the caves?" he joked to Fox as he passed her, looking over her petite red shoulder at Luke. "Maybe imprison him down there and have my way with him any time I want..." With his mate's blessing, Peregrine felt much more open about about desiring Luke's blue-pointed body.

Fox out!

Fox rolled her eyes at the obvious jokes, followed by a dramatic shake of her head. Of course, a stupid smile was still present on her face, even as she pretended that all their jokes were the worst. "Well, I won't keep you two any longer. Besides, there are kids to entertain," she said, moving from a sit to a stand. Nightjar, Dhole, and Raven seemed to want non-stop amusement from one thing or another, and it was Fox's hope that she could do enough to keep them on their toes.

"You two have fun!" were her final words as she gave Peregrine a lick on his nose, a wink, and toddled off back to the firebirds.

Luke was amused, so much so that he could hardly contain his tail as it beat around the ground as he laughed along with Peregrine. Puns and silly antics were as much a part of him as his blue nose, it was the sort of thing he thrived on. They were effective at keeping moods elevated and distracting him from feeling so aflutter.

The black alpha stood and circled them, and the white wolf watched him, quietly taking in the ripple of muscles on the handsome man. His ears perked at Peregrine's comment, and he slapped a paw on the ground. "Hey now, can't be throwing a sunny wolf into the dark." He grinned, and turned as Fox stood to make her exit. He, too, stood as Fox moved to Peregrine. He would have kissed her cheek but she was off as soon as she tended her mate. "Take care, Fox!" he called after.

And then there was two.

"Imprison me, eh?" Luke quirked a mischievous brow as revisited the earlier comment. "So I'd just be there, ready and available. No waiting. Hm..." He hummed as he stole to his companion's side, flicking Peregrine's shoulder with his tail as he made a loop around him, finishing with a teasing lick to the Alpha's ear as he came along the other side. "I have another idea." He grinned devilishly, pausing to see the man's reaction.