Heron Lake Plateau make me feel

Holy cow, sorry this took me so long! School + work is killin' me right now. x_x

To Eljay's observation, Raven nodded as an uncertain smile flickered over her features. She wasn't sure how to act when it came to the subject of her dead children, so she usually opted for polite deference. "...It was," she responded a little hesitantly. Silence fell for a beat, before she continued, "It...was the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with, actually. I just kept looking at them...looking at them...hoping they would wake up." She felt a shiver deep in her belly as the memory replayed in her mind. It was difficult to go back to those moments, but somehow she felt that Eljay would benefit from knowing what it was like. As one of the most accomplished and trusted caregivers in their pack -- not to mention the most qualified midwife they had -- it was important that he understand not only the physical ramifications of infant death on new mothers, but also the mental and emotional tolls it took.

She shook her head as if the movement could disperse the ugly images of those tiny, still forms. "I didn't have a lot of time to dwell on it, though, before it was Vasa's turn. I've never been so happy to hear a puppy cry." Her eyes lingered on her eldest daughter as she spoke, and a strange sense of gratitude filled her. In a way, the little black bird had saved her.