Redhawk Caldera Swinging from the fire escape

First, last and only post! Feel free to PP her forever and ever. :)

Although the cave offered them an undeniable sense of security, Raven didn't think any of them regretted it when the day came to leave it behind for good. She certainly wouldn't miss the cold or the dark and was fully prepared to embrace the coming spring and summer nights out in the open. Her memories of living at the rendezvous site as a youngster were fuzzy at best, though she could recall the associated feelings—freedom, excitement, joy—with nearly perfect clarity.

Despite the anticipation, she did feel a little pang in her chest as she helped Elwood rouse the pups this morning. They were getting so big and they were almost fully weaned now. Raven knew they needed her in other ways—and would for a while yet—but it made her feel a little nostalgic to know she wouldn't be nursing adorable, fuzzy babies anymore. She was moving on from being a midwife and wet nurse; it was time to graduate to sitter status.

They were meat-eating miniature wolves now, Raven mused as she hovered in the cave's mouth and let her yellow eyes drift over the four Firebirds. "Are you excited?" she asked them, tapping Towhee's hip so the girl would know to look at her. "Don't forget to say bye-bye to the cave!" she quipped softly, bending down to nip at Titmouse's ear just because. She then straightened up and smiled at Eljay, who seemed more chipper than usual today.

The sprightly, inky Gamma sidled over to a patch of grass just beyond the cave's mouth to wait for the caravan to form and prepare for takeoff. Snorting at the thought, Raven let her yellow gaze wander over everyone gathered here today. She thought, too, of those who were no longer with them. Although there was a small ache in her heart over them, she took a deep breath and felt a deep sense of contentment. Unable to sit still, she began padding slowly forward toward springtime and wide open spaces.