Redhawk Caldera Stray away from the forces that make you

He wasn't reassured by her voice, nor did he leap at the chance to be excused and back his way out of the den. He didn't want to leave her, and had he been in his right mind he might have stayed simply out of stubbornness- but truth be told, he didn't leave because he couldn't. He was frozen. The only thing that he found even somewhat comforting was the cool feeling of the den walls against his side, and against his cheekbone. He could see Fennec in his peripheral vision, but he stared into the darkness, eyes flitting about and searching for cracks or fissures, and felt himself tensing up every time he caught sight of a root or clawmark in the earthen walls. Perhaps he might have been comforted had he known that it was Elwood and Finley who had dug the den- but it might have also reminded him that they too were underground now. 

Some time passed- he wasn't sure how long. It could have been seconds after Fennec had last spoken, or it could have been minutes- he had no frame of reference. But nothing happened, and every halting breath he took was punctuated by a short, faint whine, though he paused every now and again waiting to hear the rush of calamity, the sound of the world falling in upon him. But it didn't come. 

So his breathing steadied, but he remained pressed to the wall and tense, falling somewhat complacent with his fate like a rabbit pinned by a fox. He was no less terrified of the situation than he had been before, but he was also incapable of either escalating his emotions or calming himself down enough to relax. So his breathing settled into a quick but quiet and rhythmic stress pant as he remained by Fennec's side, unable to offer her anything but his presence for now.