Redhawk Caldera unrequited sass

She opened her mouth and spoke her first words in days. "I'm glad you're—" Simultaneously, Magpie said, "Wildfire, what—" Before either of them could decide who should go first, something else interrupted them both. Someone, rather. The yearling turned her head, her lips making a valiant effort to smile at her Aunt Finley's familiar face. It was such a good thing to see after this past week. But as the Bandrona's chestnut gaze wandered over her godmother's face, her own expression froze, then fell.

Nervously licking her lips, Wildfire shuffled to fully face the older of her two aunts, now standing more or less parallel with the silent Magpie. She sensed something amiss and her stomach muscles began to clench in trepidation. Could she bear more bad news? She had come here hoping to see her parents, get some comfort and wisdom, particularly from Fox. But the look on Finley's face told her that a bomb was about to drop and her hindquarters sank to the ground, her ears pressing flat and her breath catching in her throat as she eked out, "Something's happened."