Redhawk Caldera i can feel your halo

"It's gone," someone howled and Meerkat's shoulders stopped shaking for a moment as she processed the message and tried to place the voice. Fennec, she thought, the distraction enough that her crying spell ceased for the moment. She pulled back slightly from Bronco's dampened ruff to sniffle in a wet breath.

It took her a moment to gather her strength to clarify the situation for her brother. Touching her nose gently to his cheek to help orient him, she said quietly into the space between them, "I know about the cougar attack here. There was a separate attack—a bear—at the glen." Meerkat breathed shakily for a few seconds before continuing. "I'm sorry."

She gave his paw a squeeze and fell silent for another minute before adding, "Let's not talk about this anymore right now. You need to rest. I'll be right here." They could revisit the topic when Bronco was less out of it, much as Meerkat dreaded going over it yet again. But she would do everything she could to be there for him when the reality of it finally sank in, as she knew he would be there for her. They could hold onto one another while they navigated this unprecedented tragedy.