Silvertip Mountain Life changes, but memories don't.

@Stoic @Solemn @Adeline @Odette I went ahead and started this since two have already responded to my PM. :-)

Steady took a deep breath, standing outside the den that held his nieces and nephews. He had lost track of how long he had been standing there. He had met them, sure, but this time was different. He had a new role to play in their lives- a more important one that just the fun Uncle that would always protect them. They would come to know him, hopefully, as a father figure. It was such a bittersweet moment, and his heart was having a hard time coming to grips with it. Fitz may have been gone in the physical sense, but Steady would never allow his memory to dwindle. He would make sure these pups grew up knowing exactly who he was. His face contorted as his heart skipped a beat. He always said he wanted babies. But, never like this.

He sighed, and took his first steps into the den, his eyes adjusting quickly. They were all cuddled up with each other, using their body heat to keep warm. Steady sniffed each one, counting the four. All accounted for. He laid down beside them, his head next to the growing pups.