New Beginnings [Sirius]

The grunt that came was neither an agreement nor a contradiction to what he'd said, and there was a niggling that wanted to push for a solid answer from Sirius because his response told Dove more about the man than had probably been intended. The sound, to Dove at least, meant that he'd either be back or that Sirius was still undecided about where exactly Dove stood. He shut the words down on his lips, forcing himself to be content that Sirius was seemingly content to let the issue rest for now. At his next words, though, Dove stiffly replied, "The moment that happens, you will be the first to know." Although Sirius might take the words at face value, Dove knew what they truly meant.

He'd promised himself, quietly enough that perhaps even the gods were unaware, that the next time he came upon any of his family, the rivers, the land, and the sun itself would run red, and Sirius, being the closest to Dove's location, just might be the first to notice. It was a promise to mollify the fear and nightmares that sometimes took him in their unforgiving grip; a promise to avenge a smaller, less able version of himself. A rage that had built under the years of harsh treatment that he hadn't been aware of until he'd been free of it.

Never again, echoed in his mind as he lowered his head to the ground, noting that Sirius had stepped away and letting the distance alleviate enough of his tension that he could finally focus on the hunt. The winged creature's call caught his attention and he followed after Sirius, well and truly focused finally. With a purpose to finally fixate on, Dove lengthened his strides to keep up.