Redhawk Caldera it takes two baby.

Elwood recognized his summons and broke the silence that had descended after Eljay's confession. Fin looked down at her paws for a moment, her brows furrowed thoughtfully. This made things far more complicated than she'd expected. What if the problem between the two boys was serious? Nightjar was the alphas' son, plus he was a far more dominant wolf than Eljay. The last thing Finley wanted was for her son to turn into a punching bag to the adolescent, but what interference between them could the betas really run? Nightjar was not some random wolf they could run out for causing trouble. He was an integral part of the pack. They would just both need to learn how to tolerate each other. Eljay would have to get a spine, and Nightjar would have to stop being an asshole. Ninja... Finley thought with a slightly pout.

Fin felt eyes upon her, and she looked up to spy Eljay. It never ceased to amaze her just how big his eyes could get. Her concerned gaze softened, though she regarded him gravely. Telling Nightjar to stop it was one thing, but if he was anything like Fox, he was going to do whatever he pleased. "I want you to come talk to us if it happens again." Fin said finally before pausing, uncertain of where to go next.

"Your dad's right - No one is allowed to put you down," she added after a beat with a touch of her prior ferocity. Her anger was growing again as she refocused. Maybe her little Ninja was being a jerkface. Maybe it was a matter of him getting a little carried away with some good-natured teasing. Or maybe it was meant to be cruel. And maybe someday in the future it would be someone else with some other intention. It didn't matter. It was never okay to hurt her baby.

Way to go, Fin! You processed it!

"And you shouldn't be listening to anyone who tries," Fin blurted out after another moment of silence, unable to help herself as the ever-revolving door of her emotions swept her away again, "Sometimes people are going to be dicks, Eljay. They're going to say mean things and they're going to try and make you feel bad just because they think they can. But that doesn't mean you let them. You are my kid, and you are perfect, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is an asshole that you shouldn't be wasting your time with. You're the one who controls how you feel about yourself, not anybody else."

It would occur to her way later that she maybe should've g-rated her words, and that her fervor had probably been overwhelming to the sensitive young wolf. And it probably wasn't best to advise him that his cousin was a dick and he shouldn't care whether or not they got along. But. You know. She meant well. Fingers-crossed it works out okay.