Redhawk Caldera hey child, stay wild

A yawn crept over her as Raven reposed beside the stone wall, leaning against it slightly. She squinted past the pups, surveying the endless white of the snowy wilderness. Then something touched her and she looked down with a slight start. It was Towhee pawing at her.

"Oh hey, Tow," the Gamma said, sliding forward so put their faces at the same level. "What is it?" she queried, head canting. She saw the pup staring at her mouth, so she playfully stuck out her tongue. That earned her a surprised smile and giggle. Some of the pups had begun babbling and she wondered when they might start saying their first words.

"Can you say Ra-a-ave?" the caretaker said, enunciating the word slowly. But before Towhee could react in any way (not that Raven expected a real answer), the Gamma heard a telling thwack! and looked up to see Titmouse face-planted in the yellow snow.

With a cluck and a groan, she pushed herself to her feet and trotted over to stand beside Titmouse. "You okay there, buddy?" she asked, reaching down to nose him. Suddenly Towhee was there, attempting to tackle her brother. "No!" Raven scolded. "Towhee, no!" she repeated more loudly when the little girl didn't react. When that still had no effect, the Gamma struck out a foreleg and pushed her away from Titmouse.

"Stop that," she said to the dark pup, who wilted beneath her direct and withering gaze. "Why don't you listen?" Raven asked, her voice stern, before she refocused her attention on Titmouse and repeated, "You okay?"