Redhawk Caldera sunshine on your toes

Private for @Peregrine. *innocent whistles*

Fox had lost count of the days between the birth of her children and now. It was somewhere between five and eight, though the days seemed to bleed together. She spent nearly all of her time in the confines of the den, caring for the children. Peregrine was in often enough, but he occasionally went out for food or to socialize with the rest of the pack. Envious of his forays outside the den, Fox had begun to despise the children more and more.

At first, it hadn't been much. There would just be mild annoyance when they would squawk, and Fox would remind herself that it was all for the greater good. As the days wore on, though, she became more and more sour. She was less gentle with them, and this only made them louder and more restless. If Peregrine noticed, which he likely did, he probably chalked it up to hormones or just being a first-time mom.

Today, though, Fox was particularly frazzled. The smallest one, the one that was hers to name, would not settle. He squirmed and squealed and could not manage to calm himself. Fox did everything she could think of. She cleaned him. She offered him food. She cleaned him some more. And still he went on and on and on. She couldn't handle it anymore. Just when she was on her last nerve, she nestled him right up against her chest, between her two front legs and laid her head on top of him. His cries were still there, but they were quieter. Enough that she could ignore them, anyway.

Finally, peace.
___

Fox awoke an hour or so later, one of the pups (likely Wildfire) screaming its little head off. Groggy, Fox shifted, hoping to console the latest noisemaker with food or grooming. Something was off, though. Carefully, she scanned the darkness of the den. There was the black one. There was Nightjar. There was Wildfire. There was... shit. Where had he rolled off to? Changing positions, Fox ignored the noisemaker and nosed around the den. “There you are!” she said, nosing the little sandy boy. It was only then that horror cut through her heart. He was cold, lifeless, and unmoving.