Blacktail Deer Plateau The hardest was losing you

@Junior

So much had happened in so few days. Saena did the best she could to cope with it, but recent events were beginning to overwhelm her and panic clawed its way up her throat at regular intervals through the days. She tried to focus on her usual Naturalist training but it was no use; her mind was too crowded with negative feelings and theories lately. She'd inaccurately predicted another snowfall yesterday, but the ground was still bare, lending to the growing feeling that she was losing control of her life.

Saena was still angry Peregrine hadn't bothered to see his kids. She'd been relieved about convincing Finley to stay but now, several days later, she felt both guilt and disgust. Why would she talk a traitor into coming back? Finley left them once, what was to stop her doing it again? She wanted to tell the black and white female to go back to her traitor's paradise, but felt even guiltier when those thoughts crept up on her. All these things gave Saena a somewhat anxious, distracted look.

And now, not an hour ago, Saena'd finally got word of Junior's injuries. The juvenile wasted no time in hunting down a small mouse (its leg was broken, to which she owed her success) and carrying it to the healer's den. The entire way there, her stomach fluttered and her heart hammered—why now, of all times, did her sister have to get hurt, too? Hadn't Osprey Jr.—and herself—had enough lately?

Junior was housed inside, right where Saena expected her to be. Finley was still there as well, but because of her turmoil regarding her talk with the Redhawk Beta, Saena ignored her as she slid into the den. "Junior," she said in a voice laden with concern, "are you all right? Here, I got you this," and she pushed the mouse toward her sister, regretting that its fur was slick with saliva.

In the darkness, she couldn't see Junior's injuries nor guess the nature of them, but the smell of herbs was thick in the hot air of the den, threaded slightly with the putrid scent of infection. A shrill whistle blew out of her nose as she lowered her head to her own forelegs, peering intently at Junior but unable to find the words of comfort she wished to say.