Redhawk Caldera Of all the gin joints in all the towns in all the world, she walks into mine

She caught her aunt's scent and Wildfire followed it back toward the clearing. There she found Finley skulking through the grass, looking round in the middle and distraught in the front. "Aunt Flea!" the child tried to shout, though her voice hardly carried. With a small grunt, she began to run, slowing only slightly as she neared her beloved godmother. At the last second, Wildfire reared onto her hind legs and tossed her forelegs around the Beta female's neck, her nose snuffling in Finley's ear as she tightened her grip into a wolfish hug.

After a moment, she slipped off her aunt and dropped onto her haunches. Wildfire wanted to say something, yet the seconds ticked by in silence. She didn't know what to say. She had never experienced loss before (at least, that she could remember), though she had comforted her family members when they were sad or hurt before. Drawing on those experiences, the naturally warm and caring pup reached out her muzzle to touch it against the side of Finley's neck, as if to tell her, I am here.