Redhawk Caldera hold onto your heart.

When the terrifying answer came, Eljay's brows furrowed in worry and he nosed mommy's face. "I need you, mommy," he whispered hoarsely, a tight squeek in his voice that showed that he wasn't ready to lose her. He'd fight for her in whatever way he could, but what could he really do?

Helplessly, Eljay watched as mommy paced around restlessly and eventually, a pup came out. It didn't look very good, but then, maybe they all looked that way when they were born? He looked at mommy's face but she showed nothing but panic and it didn't do any good to eleviate the panic that Eljay himself felt. "It's okay, mommy, I'll protect you," said Eljay — words terrifyingly much like the words spoken first to Peter when he'd found his dead body — tears clouding his eyes as he looked at his mother.

Eljay didn't dare come closer, because he didn't know what to do and crowding mommy wasn't going to help at all. Apparently it was going differently from when he was born, or so he assumed, since mommy seemed in such a panic. It strengthened his resolve to become a puppy-deliverer-helper, but at the same time he felt so helpless and scared right now. He watched with bated breath, hoping that everything would be okay — that mommy would be okay.