Redhawk Caldera Who knows how to use a flamethrower?

Fin's eyes shone with pride and emotion as Towhee spoke. Her heart swelled even as it broke. Part of her felt as though she really was doing her goddaughter a disservice with this promotion (she was still so young, after all). But that was just another reason that Finley didn't fit the rank. She saw it as a burden whereas Towhee would take it as an honor - a sentiment that was voiced shortly after the thought flit through her mind. It was enough to silence what few, inconsequential doubts Fin still had over this. She'd made the right decision. And it was probably the best one she'd ever made in her tenure as alpha of the Caldera.

She allowed herself to be pulled into the hug, leaning into it just as fiercely. Fin had to shut her eyes tight to keep the tears from falling at Towhee's last words. The sentiment meant more to her than her goddaughter would likely ever realize. There were so many ways Fin had failed in her life, even though she had always tried to do things right. The failures that haunted her the most were the ways in which she had failed as a mother. Eljay, Lucy, Liffey, Phox, Titmouse, Gannet, Nightjar... The list was heartbreakingly long and though she had done well in some ways, Fin was hardwired to dwell on the others most of the time. But Towhee reminded her she wasn't a complete fuck up. And where she hadn't failed, she had done extremely well - Towhee was proof of that.

Fin held her tight for a few moments more before stepping back so they both could breathe. She fixed Towhee with a watery smile, nodding to show her gratitude, hoping the gesture would somehow say all the things she couldn't put to words just then. She swallowed the lump in her throat and took a breath before breaking the silence, in typical Finley fashion. "Alright, let's pull ourselves together," she said, "Can't let anyone see us like this. Leaders are supposed to be bad asses. That's your first lesson in alphadom." She smiled, realizing belatedly that using words like alphadom with Towhee didn't usually work out that well.