Redhawk Caldera the shoulder you cry on

The pups couldn't hear yet, much less understand, but Raven felt herself stiffen at the question and look down at them as if to check if they'd overheard. They hadn't, of course, and she felt a little tingle of relief before her yellow eyes climbed back up to Eljay's face. Her ears fell backward a bit at the thought of losing another pup. It was a very real fear and she couldn't fault him for asking, though it wasn't really something Raven wanted to think about, either.

"We're doing our best to prevent that from happening again," she murmured in response, referring not only to herself and her godparents but the rest of the pack as well. "There are no guarantees," the Gamma added, thinking it important not to sugarcoat things for Eljay. He ought to be prepared for the possibilities, grim as they were, so if something did happen, it wouldn't crush him.

"But they're all perfectly healthy," the caregiver continued in the next breath, smiling and reaching out to poke Titmouse's rear. He jumped with a startled yelp, then abandoned his floor-licking to turn and pounce her forepaw. He began to gnaw, his new milk teeth poking uncomfortably at her flesh, but Raven tolerated it for the moment.