Redhawk Caldera and a happy new year [birth]

The screeching pup in her arms seemeed to quiet almost the moment Finley began her ministrations. A part of her wanted to smile at this for as awful as a mother as she'd proven to be so far, she still adored these little puppy things. But her heartache was still too much to allow even the faintest twitch of a grin, and so the feeling was fleeting as she finished her cleaning and shifted the pup back towards Raven so that she could feast. For a moment, she felt the pang of jealousy that she wasn't able to provide them food herself. Eventually she would get over that though, for being trapped in the den with the little tit suckers had actually always been her least favorite part of motherhood.

As the pups settled against Raven, Finley found herself tempted to turn her head just slightly towards the back of the den where Fox's body laid. Even as she thought it, she felt her limbs begin to tremble against the heartbreak. She was glad when the movements of her mate just outside distracted her and she turned her head to see him. It was then that she spotted Eljay just past him.

"I'll help them," Fin said, turning back to her goddaughter, "Just keep them against your stomach. They'll need to eat and they'll keep screeching until they do. If that doesn't quiet them, grooming should do the trick. Just call me back if you need me." She stood then, reaching to nudge Raven's temple encouragingly. How strange it was that she was giving parenting advice. Finley felt her grief threaten to rear up again when she considered what Fox would have had to say about that.

Free of the den, Finley strode to Eljay. Without a word, she pulled him into a wolfish embrace, tucking her muzzle softly against his ruff. She held him for only a moment before standing back and gazing at his face. "This isn't your fault," she said, her eyes searching for his, "Don't even think it."

With that she turned to Elwood, allowing her hold on her demeanor slip ever so slightly as she breathed in and said to him, "We should bury her by Peregrine. They should be together." The tears swelled in her eyes again, but she held them back from falling. She'd had her moment, and now she recognized that Elwood was right in all the things he hadn't actually said aloud. They needed to move their alpha's body out of the den and put her to rest. There were things to take care of now, and it was more important than falling apart.