Dawnlark Plains on one side, yesterday, on the other side, tomorrow across the void

Something had changed. The den felt even more crowded than before, despite the absence of his father. His father. Eventide was still too young to understand loss, or death, so while he did understand that Grayday was gone, he was still convinced that there would be a return. That's how it normally went, at least; one of the adults would leave, and Kasatka might mope, and Winterbourne might doze off, and Eventide might wander outside of the den, but then the adult would come back, and everyone would reassume position. 

This time, though, Poppa sure was taking a while.

Eventide cuddled up against his mother's neck with his tail wagging slow and steady behind him. I'ov you, he whined, wondering aimlessly about what he could do to lighten the mood.