Redhawk Caldera and a happy new year [birth]

Fastforwarding this along a bit :) Hope no one minds I skipped the manual labor!

Her mate agreed and her son offered to help with the burial. Finley glanced back at the den at Raven, trying not to see the dark, unmoving shape just beyond. She swallowed the lump in her throat as she turned back and lead the trio away to where Peregrine was buried - soon to also be his mate's final resting place.

He was not buried far from the whelping den, which was a comfort to Fin that she would not have to go too far from Raven and the newborns. They worked quickly but quietly to make a spot beside Peregrine. Time had lost its meaning for Finley, so she couldn't say how soon it was that they returned to the den for Fox's body. It was fortunate, really, because I can't decide how long it would take three wolves to dig a shallow grave anyway. But moving on...

Finley approached the den first, lowering herself at the entrance to look at her goddaughter. She had decided already while they were digging the grave that she would not be attending the rest of the burial. Fox had been her best friend - probably the only true female friend she could say she'd ever had. But Fox had been Raven's mother. Someone needed to stay with the pups, and Finley knew that it would be her. "Let's move the kids as far to the side as we can," the Blackthorn said gently, "We'll move move Fox out, then I'll stay and watch the kids while you go  say.. While you go help your uncle and cousin."

Her eyes clouded, but Finley took a steadying breath before moving to help Raven with the squirming newborns.