Redhawk Caldera and a happy new year [birth]

Life had resumed some sense of normalcy in the days since the pack meeting. Elwood had done what he needed to do in order to protect his family -- what he should have done, he realized, when the "monster" came for Lucy. He felt no guilt over the death of Kaizer, but instead transposed that feeling onto something that he couldn't change. He knew it was worthless to think that way, but couldn't stop himself; if only he had been there to tear the black wolf's throat out and save his daughter. If only.

But time continued to march on, closer and closer to Fox's impending due date. Soon enough, she would be bringing new life into the world, so Elwood -- as her singular Beta and second-in-command -- checked on her discreetly and frequently, while being careful to give the mother-to-be a wide berth. He was padding past the densite, his paws moving through the snow a few yards away, when he heard soft whimpering, and then a voice. Normally, he would have kept going; if Fox had given birth, he knew she wouldn't permit him to get too close just yet. But something told him to take a closer look, and he did.

Pausing a wolf's length from the entrance, he chuffed softly, nostrils flaring. Something didn't smell right, but Raven's scent was strong alongside her mother's, so he called out softly, "Raven?"