Deepwood Weald Ahead by a Century

She felt a deep aching to see two still bodies alongside the four who wriggled, fed, and made tiny little noises. Their voices joined in what was like a song to her ears- and when they quieted, she licked them, nuzzled them so they might sing out again. The silence from the two still pups was almost deafening; she tried to drown it out by encouraging the others to murmur. 

Dutch's voice, welcome in her ears, pulled her temporarily out of her stupor, and she felt her lips tremble at the thought of having any of her children taken from her side. "One more moment," She begged, though she knew she needn't; she felt certain Dutch would understand, and that she would be afforded some more time with them. "I want to hold them so they know they were loved."  Her voice broke, and she felt herself begin to sob, a sound she struggled to keep as quiet as possible even though she knew her living children couldn't hear her. 

They couldn't be far away; if their spirits hung about, she would want them to see, at least, that their lives mattered no matter how short they had been.