Redhawk Caldera Bringing her body home

Raven had been confused as to the purpose of the hole, but when Sebastian moved Tiger's lifeless body toward it, the little blackbird understood what he meant to do.  She'd never been to a funeral before, never witnessed the burial of a fellow wolf in the ground.  It was a strange and uncomfortable thing for her to think about.  The thought of being under the earth, with all that dirt on top of her, made her shudder and feel a little queasy.  She didn't want Tiger to be in that hole, and she started to get a little upset as the males gently nudged her into it.  

Her ears flattened and she was about to raise her voice in protest when Sebastian turned his attention to her and, in a calm voice, explained why they were burying her friend.  She didn't really know what "scavengers" were, but she understood being eaten.  She didn't want Tiger to be eaten, and maybe being buried in the ground would keep her safe from harm.  It didn't make sense at all to her, but since the elder wolves seemed to accept it, she guessed it was true.  Taking a few slow steps forward, she approached the edge of the hole and peered down into it.  Tiger -- vibrant, laughing, bright-eyed, feisty, silly, generous, affectionate, kindhearted Tiger -- lay empty and cold in the dirt below, her limbs stiff with the creeping onset of rigor, her face drawn into a grimace.  This was what death looked like, and it was both fascinating and unnerving to the child.  She swallowed thickly, a single tear rolling down her dark cheek.  A small yellow dandelion flower nearby caught her attention and, without a word, she picked it and dropped it into the grave.  It landed lightly on Tiger's shoulder, ironically bright and cheery against its somber surroundings.  Raven said nothing, but her eyes never left her friend.