Redhawk Caldera they came from behind

"Yes, aggression," She stated, exasperated now that Eljay was questioning her. She felt light-headed and stared off into the trees where Phox- who seemed to be the only one faithful to her now- had disappeared. What would Phox think if he heard Eljay question her, when she was there so vulnerable, with what she assumed was a broken leg and endangered pups? What she needed at that moment was reassurance and care- but what she got was complication and questioning. Niamh had been perhaps summed up best quite some time ago by @Quixote when he came to the conclusion that she was basically useless in a crisis. 

He seemed surprised by something- and she didn't conclude that he was surprised to find out she was pregnant. After all- she had been grieving and isolating since Primrose had been returned to them, and her heat had come and gone all in a flurry, and Phox had kept careful watch over her, after the incident with Whip. Afterwards, she'd spent the majority of her time hunting or patrolling and when she was doing neither of those, she retreated to her den. She hadn't even spent much time with Towhee; her world became tasks, Phox, and darkness. So when Reyes had seen her striding along with her bare belly  and perky nipples, he'd been able to jump to the conclusion- and voice it out loud to her in a way she found rude and insulting. 

But curled up as she was, it made sense for Eljay to be surprised. She and Phox hadn't joyfully announced that she was pregnant. This was her third time carrying children- so she hadn't felt the need to go and see Eljay for normal signs of pregnancy. She absolutely loathed that she'd lost all the fur on her belly, but...That was simply a vanity issue. It wasn't something to be concerned about. It was enough of a sign for her to conclude, and Phox too- but without informing the others, and in being as anti-social as she had been, she had deprived the others of the news. She thought perhaps Phox might've said something- but it hurt to confess that she was pregnant, so soon after finding her son dead, and having both of her daughters go off on their own adventures. 

"You weren't there," She stated almost absent-mindedly as Eljay voiced something that bordered on being an accusation. For a moment, she didn't seem to react to it, and she continued to stare off into the woods. But she turned her head back to look at him a moment later- as though his voice had been delayed. Her demure, vacant look was replaced- albeit temporarily- by a fierce snarl. "You're making excuses for a subordinate who attacked one of your leaders?" She snarled viciously, her teeth clicking together. 

He began talking about her wounds but the force of her shout had worn her out. She had no fight left to give, and flopped senselessly against him, eyes still half-open.