Sun Mote Copse Whiskey lullaby

As uncle Colt's call sounded, Eljay didn't answer. It was one day since Wiffle's death, and he had simply lain by their den in the tree, sniffing up the last of Wiffle's aroma, crying, while trying to keep @Weejay and @Elfie together and by his side. He knew he should get up off the floor and grow up, but as so many other times in his life Eljay found himself unable to. He wanted to be brave and strong, but he just wasn't. Eljay tried to keep the pups occupied by telling them cute stories of Wiffle, so they could have fond memories of their mother, but each time he'd break down crying halfway through. It felt like this was a hole that he could impossibly dig himself out of, even though he had to so badly. If not for himself, then for the kids.

Eljay didn't show up to the meeting, because he didn't think he could bear listening to them talk about Wiffle's death there. And anyway, he told himself, someone needed to stay with the pups, so it wasn't like him not being there was totally useless.