Redhawk Caldera Thirty days in the dungeon!

Finley felt strangely detached from the pain that Raven was obviously feeling over the death of the pup. Maybe it was because she was a mother already and knew what it was to lose a child. Maybe it was because she knew that Fox had lost one of her own before, so she felt as though her friend would have understood the loss of this one. Maybe Finley had just been dealt too much pain lately and her heart could not break for this puppy because it was already far too broken.

Whatever the case, Finley could only nod when Raven decided to give a name to the pup - Stoat. It was a comment she'd heard her goddaughter make before to other visitors, that she thought the little girl looked like one. She had seen the name coming eventually, but not so cruelly soon.

Raven gave her and Elwood a significant look as she picked up the lost firebird and turned to go. Finley watched as she left, leaning into the touch against her cheek. She turned to press her muzzle against her mate's with a soft whine, looking at his handsome face mournfully. Her remorse was echoed there, tenfold. She licked his nose softly, trying to soothe his guilt before looking back to where Raven had left.

"I'm going to go with her," Fin said gently, "She shouldn't be alone." Her eyes trailed back to her mate, knowing that he probably didn't want to be alone either. But he was older, he was stronger. Finley knew that he had suffered and survived the same losses she had. Raven was young and still learning life's cruel lessons, and though all Fin wanted to do right then was curl up beside her mate so that they could comfort each other with their nearness, Raven needed her. Fin stood and followed after her niece after giving her mate one last kiss.