Redtail Rise Savin’ his Pennies for someday

Everything about this situation was unprecedented, so Lilia’s summons was no more or less surprising than anything else. Masquerade approached with a certain wariness, feeling uncharacteristically defensive of their mother and her title. Avicus was Wealda. There were no substitutes.

They listened to what the Bjern had to say, bristling inwardly. But Lilia didn’t want to usurp Avicus, she proposed they all step up during her convalescence. Masque’s ears swept backward uncertainly. They agreed with that sentiment, though it wasn’t particularly Lilia’s place to call the shots. What about Augur and the rest of the pack?

Normally they wouldn’t meddle in such affairs, though this wasn’t like the time Relic and Ancelin had fought. Masquerade still thought that nobody should assume Avicus’s role at the head of the pack, even temporarily, but if push came to shove…

We should all protect Wealda’s rightful place, Masque opined, but if we need a placeholder, it should be Redd, Relic or both. We should consult with Augur, they added, then fell silent.