Swiftcurrent Creek Don't call me cute okay?

she felt drained, exhausted, and it hurt to lift herself up enough to gather her children close, or stop their occasional cries. she'd returned to her den, in the end, and even though she wanted dearly to sleep beneath the open sky, the prospect of crawling out of the little space seemed too monumental to attempt. and so she settled for lying her in a stupor, caught between feelings of love and failure and overwhelming exhaustion, holding tight @Stone and @Brook all the while. 

it took her longer than it out of to notice the tiny figure at the den's entrance, and only habit had her call out a small greeting. "hello." she lifted her head sluggishly, making out something in the boy's - girl's? - mouth.