Not the exercise you thought it was

At the crack of dawn, instead of finding his way to his new recruits' den, he made his way to the border. Starting a patrol instead of waking one that needed time to heal. It was honest logic, and not a softness on his part. That was all.

He paced the familiar range of his territory, his breath warming the cool air before him as he made his way from plains, to beach, and back again. Finding nothing amiss as the sun slowly began to rise, and turning back towards the temporary den he had dug for Deathbelle - and apparently for Iris.

He arrived at the door and seated himself there, “Are you awake yet, Little Iris?” he called in.


"Speech"