Now that she could get them out into the sunlight and fresh air on the regular, she had spent much of the late afternoon trying to exhaust the puppies. Either by chasing them or encouraging them to roam around the den's little doorstep, she'd harassed them into near constant motion until finally had enough of it and she let them rest. Her benefit in this came from seeing them all curled up or sprawled out somewhere, asleep, and not immediately needing her.. which right now, was everything she wanted.

While she didn't have anywhere in particular to be, it mostly felt good to just be on her own for a few moments. Scarce as they were, she was keen to enjoy them carefully, so went to a nearby spot of her own to unwind for these last few bits of daylight. While she could doze if she wanted, she kept one ear turning to the nearby sounds despite the outwardly relaxed appearances as dusk started to get comfy too.

Charon's approach was enough to perk her up again. She chuffed back quietly and wagged her tail against the ground--not looking to summon any puppies either. Since she made no moves to get up and go to him, she made it plenty clear she was quite content to invite him the rest of the way to her. Why not, when it was a good spot and close enough to the den to watch over it without being too close, unless he had other ideas.

His was a company she would embrace. When he came to her, she leaned against him however she could and exhaled a small, happy sigh. It usually was not just them lately, usually a puppy clinging around somewhere, or at least where she could see them, so this was very welcome.

As for what her thought on the weak puppy, she had considered this a lot already and learned that she hardly had the patience for it as it was playing out currently. Faulty was certainly one way to put it. Her ears slicked back and she huffed. Here between just the two of them, she could lay it bare, ugly or not, and she already had a feeling Charon wouldn't be merciful in his thoughts either. "She struggles a lot. It is frustrating to watch her suffer," she murmured. Her face was scrunched with a foul feeling that went deeper than just voicing this for the first real time.

The litter was growing, and while the male was still a bit slow on the uptake when compared to the paler sisters, the little Ran continually seemed much further behind them--and having a paw and limb that refused to grow right did her no favors either. Not being able to just do something to fix her daughter's issues irritated her. Despite willing her to grow and making sure she nursed most of the time, she still failed to take off quite as the mother had wanted. Day after day, and Amekaze was left to just wonder how this could be, and more importantly, what she was meant to do about it. "And I do hate seeing that leg." Her nose wrinkled disdainfully. It didn't seem to be getting any better so Ame was very bothered by it, and wished she could trust the girl's strength and grit enough to just get rid of it. Yet as it were now, she was certain anything like that would just kill her faster.

She felt her eyes narrow at his question. Knee-jerk, she knew her answer immediately--well, answered solely with her in mind. Not the innocent Ran, a young life yet unproven, and above all, her daughter. If this had been her only surviving son with the same sufferable ailments, Amekaze knew she likely would have already done away with it without hardly a second glance.. With a slow exhale, she would reply: "Probably," she reasoned for the first half. It would be better for her because she would not have to deal with her fussing anymore or watching her struggle around while her others flourished. Plus, she was one less mouth to feed. The second was a little stickier.

"I worry.. it may just be her inevitable," she began, shifting herself to sit more upright as she spoke on. "She may never hunt well, may never fight skillfully.. may never be able to navigate dangers of the mountain," the alpha scowled. Weakness every piece of it screamed. "Is it only a matter of time?"

She believed it was.. very, very likely that something would see to her end. If not one of the more obvious variables she'd just questioned, there were many other possibilities just waiting to prey on a weakness such as that one that consumed her seventh daughter. Some could even be closer than others--Ame saw the way Vela had no patience for her, and that did not bode well in her heart. They already came from a family tree sprinkled heartily with executioners. The dark mother did not want to see her offspring add fratricide to their repertoire, as she had, and that was just the beginning of what it could be to kill the weak little wolf if they didn't.

So yes, in the bitter end, it was better.

For her, for her mate, and for the rest of the pack. Perhaps even for Ran too. There were far too many myths and tales of rebirth for her to discredit it all so easily, even if it was just a thought to ease the grief. There had to be something better for her than a life of slow, miserable suffering, held captive by a weak body that failed to flourish.

Ame let the pause hang a beat. "It is," she finally agreed aloud now that he had fished the right phrasing out of her. "A shame.. that she is so very unlucky," she sighed and moved so that she could press her nose at Charon's cheek despite the frown keeping her expression dark. "But I would not want to live a life with that deformity. Especially not with stronger sisters who just exemplify everything she lacks," she shook her head then shifted so she could set it on him, and invited further contact between them both. Amekaze huffed, justifying her agreement mostly for herself. "As much as it burns me that she is my daughter as well.. it just does not seem fair that she be dealt this." Not with how magnificent her older siblings had grown to be already, and how promising their futures all seemed.. except for crippled-foot Ran, born to parents with very little patience towards the problem.

"So it should be soon then, hm?" She knew, and couldn't help but glance to the darkening sunset-streaked skies at the thought of putting any sort of date on this right here, and right now.

She hated the gravity of it, and watching him numbly accept the duty came no easier. An unexpectedly difficult read.. which made a piece of her wish it had just been done even sooner--but the girl had persisted anyway, making her doubt it even once she had fully realized magnitude of the issue at play here. Her ears angled back further still; she dreaded the worse sorrow that could follow.. once things changed, and even the next moment she would see Ran for as long as she remained with them. The vibe around her little family was about to change quite a bit.

Are you sure? she wanted to ask.. although it was not merely out of doubt for his resolve. She could.. she likely would, although it would not be easy--but she would move on past it. Surely she could channel her annoyances and frustration into something effective, if she had to. There had been times when they tested her patience already. Most likely, all the same could be said for him though, and he had already taken it on himself.

"Yeah," she said quietly and a little bit sad. "For the greater good." she resolved through a sigh, and hoped that if anything, the only regret would be not doing it sooner once it was said and done.

She made no moves to tether him to her when he started to get ready to leave. Well read enough to know there was no need to pry now, she nodded and tried to swipe her tongue over his face in a quick kiss before he traveled out of her reach.

There was somberness in watching him leave, too, but she knew it was necessary. She stayed there a while longer, simply resting her head on her paws and mulling it over. While she had not volunteered to do the deed, she still needed a moment to gather her composure to head back to the puppies at all after discussing their fate so boldly.