Redhawk Caldera wake the devil

Niamh said some things to her, which didn't immediately process. But when they did, Meerkat found the wherewithal to raise her watery eyes and look at her Neema's face. She tried to speak, though her throat wouldn't cooperate. Soon, the Regent was ushering her toward shelter, barking for Reyes to come along with them and causing Meerkat to jerk her head to give him a stricken look.

She met his hard words with a blink so forceful it caused two fat teardrops to plink into the snow in tandem. Meerkat shook her head at him and made no effort to move, instead dropping to her haunches and raising a foreleg to signal for both of them to wait. Meerkat was determined to get a hold of herself long enough to convey the warning, if nothing else.

"There," she began, her voice a throaty croak, "there was a-a-a... a b-be..." She'd never struggled like this in her life. Meerkat hiccuped, drew in a deep breath, trapped it in her chest and tried again. Only, the moment her lips parted, she saw something over Niamh's shoulder and instead let out a little cry.

"Meerkat...?" Towhee was saying as she galloped through the snow toward the trio. "What's going on—?" The question was partially cut off by a loud oof sound as Meerkat flung herself into her mother's arms and clung to her, sobbing afresh.