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finley recuperated at the plateau, and tytonidae had not been seen at the sunspire. frustration filled lasher's throat with bile as he trudged exhaustedly in the direction of the caldera. the nights spent in blue willow's arms had been abruptly cut short by the healing energies spent on the redhawk wolf — he wondered idly if they had done enough to ensure conception, then decided it mattered not; next season would arrive soon enough if his seed did not take in her belly.
pausing at the borders in the cold light of midday, he sent up a call for his former lover, and though worry for finley and ty still resided keenly within him, a small niggle of anticipation had clambered into his heart.
When the familiar voice of Lasher called out for her mate, Peregrine, Fox could not help herself from moving toward it. Maybe it was instinct. Maybe it was a feeling of distaste for his pairing with Blue Willow. Maybe it was insecurity that he would attempt to pull her lover back to the plateau, away from her. Whatever it was, she found herself approaching her former friend with apprehension and suspicion. Why was he here? What was his purpose for showing up at their border?
She did not ask these questions, assuming that he would merely give her sideways answers if he was planning something nefarious. “Peregrine should be here soon,” she said curtly, knowing that Lasher would be less than pleased with her presence. Considering she had heard little about their sister-pack agreement, Fox assumed that one was not in place. The fact that she was not immediately chasing a non-pack-member away from the borders was a feat in itself, and he would have to take that as acceptance of their sister-pack agreement.
it was not peregrine who answered, but fox, despite the fact that he had called specifically for the panther. biting back a sharp retort, lasher nodded affably enough at the ruby, plume swaying once in friendly intention. you look well,
he rejoined in a tone that could only be called vague — he did not wish to stir things with her.
where they stood with one another was well-known — he bore news for peregrine alone, and hoped that fox would leave them once her mate arrived, though given her pretentious nature, this was not likely. turning his gaze away from her, lasher fell silent, awaiting the devil's arrival.
If things had gone differently, if Lasher was not intending to sire bastard children, perhaps she could have thought of him differently, now that they were away. But it was one of the few things she could not stop herself from passing judgement on. She made no comment of it, for such atrocities were far away from her now, and while she had been known to stir the pot on numerous occasions, she was beginning to tame her ways. Not for herself, but for the health and safety of her future children. They had not yet been conceived, but she knew that it was in her best interest to remain free of injury and enemies if she was to keep them safe.
When he plodded toward his borders to find his wife facing off with his former flame, Peregrine felt a giant dose of sadness mix into the emotional cocktail. The three of them could have been a team, siring and raising Fox's pups as a triad... but they didn't even like one another, much less love each other. Peregrine eyed them from a distance, wondering what Fox was saying to Lasher.
At length, he slunk down the mountainside like a black panther. "Lasher, unless you have some dire news from the plateau, I think you should go. And tell our sister pack to send a less... controversial messenger next time." Peregrine felt like a jerk even as the words left his lips but didn't Lasher understand how torturous this was for him? He needed time and space if he ever hoped to heal; they both did. Seeing each other kept reopening the wounds. His jade eyes brimmed with apology and a need for understanding, though he stood firmly, his posture unwelcoming, to punctuate his words.
he did not speak to fox again, lifting his eyes instead to the approaching form of peregrine. he had not expected the other's response to his presence, however, and so was unable to hide the expression of surprise and agony that twisted momentarily across his features.
wrongly he assumed that the panther's reaction stemmed from the untrue idea that perhaps he would try and hurt fox, acting the part of a jaded lover. fire swept his belly -- had he ever given peregrine reason to doubt him so? yet his ears slipped back to cup his skull; he backed further from the caldera's borders.
surely fox mocked him now, and he was tormented by the idea, but taltos did not regard her or peregrine directly again. after we spoke, i came across finley in the shared lands. she was attempting to hunt a bear. i was able to divert its attention, but not enough to keep her from being injured. i brought her to the plateau. blue willow is tending her. finley's injuries are deep, but not mortal."
he spoke in a cool monotone, unwilling to let the pair see another flicker of weakness in him. i also visited the sunspire. tytonidae has not been seen there; her mother left some time ago, it seems."
lasher turned his gaze from its vague fixation and glanced briefly into the emerald eyes of his still-beloved panther, his expression veiled. in the next moment he had routed himself from the edge of the caldera, setting a steady, loping pace back toward the plateau.
She had missed the flutter of surprise and hurt that flushed Lasher's features for a moment, but was drawn to his voice when he spoke of Finley. She was alive, but injured. The story checked out, if only because Finley would be the type to go and do such a thing. Lasher also spoke of Peregrine's missing daughter, the only one who had not spit anger and malice toward her. But before any questions could be asked, before any clarification could be made, Lasher was disappearing into the landscape. Fox gave Peregrine a frantic look, wondering if either (or both) of them should go after him.
Because I have to be, he tried to remind himself, preparing to say something when Lasher turned and abruptly began to lope away. Utterly nonplussed, Peregrine met Fox's frantic gaze, then swiftly began to trot after Lasher. It felt very odd to do so after his harsh words, yet Lasher's words had, of course, changed everything.
"Where do you think you're going after dropping news like that? Can't we be professional and keep personal feelings out of this?" he lashed out exasperatedly, which only served to make him feel like an even bigger asshole. Probably a hypocrite too. "Finley's intended to be our Beta. She's also a good friend of mine. Do you think we're just going to leave her there? She belongs here; this is her home and we are her family." Having made that point, Peregrine asked the most important question: "Is she transportable? I will carry her on my back if I have to."
he had been unable to keep the tears from flowing once he had turned away from the redhawk pair — thus it was with shame and mild trepidation that he whirled to regard peregrine as the panther gave pursuit. he did not speak until the devil had said his piece and inquired as to finley's traveling state.
i do not think she is fit to make the journey, peregrine,
taltos said softly, blinking eyes red with both sorrow and exhaustion. i brought her back with me only several hours ago, and it was difficult to keep her conscious for that shorter trek.
i came as soon as she was settled. you understand as well as i that blue willow is the most skilled healer we know; finley is in good hands.
he was hurt that peregrine had humilated him, and further tore open the wound by shouting as well. finley was his friend also, and he knew well where she belonged. to hear more insinuations of mistrust in peregrine's tone angered him, but he dropped his eyes to the loam betwixt his paws and said nothing more.
Fox slid in front of Peregrine, facing him and urging him back toward their home. "Don't do this," she pleaded, "You and I both know Finley will return when she is able." She had been one of two to depart the plateau in favor of Redhawk Caldera. "I need you here, and so do the rest of our comrades." Peregrine couldn't go running off every few days just because he wanted a pack-mate back.
"Tell Finley that she may take as much time as she needs," Fox said to Lasher, personal grudges set aside in favor of her injured friend. Having been a bit of an invalid herself over the past month or so, Fox knew how painful recovery could be. "We will come visit her if we are able." She made no promises, for their numbers were few in the caldera, and it was not her intention to leave it wide-open for trespassers.
In response to Lasher's words, Peregrine said, "I know that. I don't have any problem with you guys looking after her. I appreciate it, of course," he said, humbling and softening simultaneously. "Do you think I'd just let you go, though? That I wouldn't want to check on own subordinate? That I'd just leave you to it without a care in the world? She's my friend as well as my pack mate. I don't care if it's not mortal, I want to be by her—"
And that was the moment when Fox caught up to them and inserted herself between Peregrine and Lasher. Although she spoke the truth, his ears flattened in response to her interference. He was about to open his mouth to acknowledge her when she cut him off and told Lasher to go, then spoke for both of them in regards to visitation. The Alpha male couldn't help himself. He growled deeply, the sound directed at his mate.
"I will come visit her shortly," he said to Lasher without looking at him. His steely eyes were fastened upon Fox's face. "And... thank-you, Lasher." Peregrine stifled a sigh, knowing that his former lover was going to leave for real now and that their relationship was effectively severed. It was for the best but it sure as hell didn't feel like it.
Once the sable male was out of earshot, Peregrine said, "Why do you speak for me? I can speak for myself. How can you just leave her there? What if she thinks we don't give a fuck about her? What if she decides she'd rather stay there? We've chosen her for our Beta. I'm going to go see her." His tone left no room for argument whatsoever.
taltos was quite wearied by all that had gone on, and received peregrine's stream of words in silence, feeling both that he had made a mistake in coming here, and that he had been wronged. his lips parted to speak, to give some vague answer to peregrine — to beg his former lover to allow him to leave — but fox suddenly drew herself between them.
he was surprised by her words, for he had expected the ruby to decimate him as well, and stepped back from the pair as peregrine's ominous growl settled over them. goodbye,
lasher whispered hoarsely, dipping his muzzle and turning once more to leave them both, the speed of his lope more pronounced.
blue willow's warmth was what he sought now, but she would be devoted to healing finley, and lasher would need to discover another reprieve for the overflow of agony and bitterness in his heart.
Fox said nothing of this, but simply stared at Peregrine with a gaze that was filled with hurt and bewilderment. Was this the same wolf she had met nearly a year ago? He did not seem to be, and although she would never begin to consider tearing herself away from him, she wondered if he would continue to be so cruel. Without another word, she retreated, feeling the overwhelming urge to be completely and utterly alone.
"I'll be back as quickly as I can," he called after her when Fox turned wordlessly away. He fought the urge to go after her and make things better. There would be plenty of time for that later. Turning, he found himself following Lasher's footsteps, though he would step off the trail for a while to avoid catching up with his former flame.