Redhawk Caldera Suicide

She had four little brothers. Wildfire clutched this news close to her heart. Her mouth opened to ask their names, then clapped shut again. Fox had explained her naming traditions to her, so it was quite likely they didn't have any yet. She wondered what they looked like, what they would be like when they were older, and she wanted to smile but her lips just wouldn't cooperate.

"That's great," she said, the lake growing larger in the distance. Wildfire swallowed and looked surreptitiously over her shoulder, though she was beginning to think Goober wasn't going to come after her after all. He had gotten what he wanted from her, so hopefully he would just leave her alone. Her insides roiled.

When they toed the shoreline, Wildfire angled her posterior away from Elwood and offered him a meek, thankful smile. "Thanks for walking with me. It—" Her voice caught in her throat, which she cleared before trying again. "It really shook me up. It was—he seemed like a nice guy." Her voice fell flat and she swallowed, her saliva tasting bitter.

The yearling paused awkwardly, then squinted off toward Moonspear as she asked, "Can you maybe not mention this to them?" Wildfire didn't have to clarify who she meant, as the request was redundant. "I promise it won't ever happen again. And I don't want to stress them out about the—being attacked. And I'd like to be able to come visit the pups at some point." She stopped there, tongue flicking out to wet dry lips.