Redhawk Caldera america's next top hobo.

It was strange to feel simultaneously fat and emaciated. Finley licked her lips as she stared at her sides. Her ribs were poking through her fur, and yet her stomach looked bloated. It made her feel sick. Or maybe that was just the pregnancy again. Or perhaps it was the desperate hunger. Or maybe it was simply the anxiety she felt looking at her own frail body and worrying for the babies within. Were they this weak as well? Were they this skinny and hungry? Or were they perhaps fat and healthy and happy within her because they'd sucked all the fat and healthy from their mother? She would hope for the latter. So long as they made it into this world safely, she could spend the rest of their lives getting even with the little parasites.

The beta pulled herself onto all fours and began to walk towards the lake in the center of the Caldera. She'd always been terrible at fishing as she generally lacked the patience that was needed to be successful. But if nothing else, she could slake her thirst and give her body the false sense of fullness.

Peter had spent the morning playing around and gnawing a shin-bone - all that was left from the coyote puppy that his father had brought him few days earlier. It had satisfied his hunger for short while, but today he was back at point zero. And no amount of pestering and proding his parent's muzzles to make them more food to appear - he was starving again, the ache in his tummy almost unbearable.

He had been following Ferret in the beginning, but lost him quickly - because he was way slower than his agile sibling - and now found himself in an unfamiliar area (he had not yet explored caldera too much). The more time passed, the further away he went from the rendezvous place, until he arrived by a lake, which confused things even more. "Ow-ow-ow-o-o-o-o-ow!" he howled mournfully for anyone, who would happen to be around.

Finley's self-pitying thoughts were (thankfully) interrupted as she came near to the lake. She paused, ears pricking as the little howl stretched across the air. It didn't sound too far from where she was, and though it was tinged with heartbreaking sadness, it didn't cause her any real alarm. Still, she was quick to turn her paws and canter swiftly towards the source of the sound after howling shortly herself to let the caller know she was coming.

The mother-to-be grinned when she spotted Peter seated alone near the water's edge. Trotting to his side, she chuckled gently and leaned down to plant a comforting kiss upon his crown. He was apparently none too pleased with the little adventure he'd found himself on, which was quite endearing. "What're you doing, little Pee Pants?" she crooned affectionately, grinning at her own cleverness at coming up with such a nickname from Peter Pan. Unlike Ninja or Wiffle, this was not likely a moniker she could go on using for him once he was older, so she would get the most of it while he was still too young to be embarassed by his lame Aunty Flea.

Peter's prayers were answered almost immediately and he thanked whatever god was there above that had heard him. Being generally friendly to all people and enjoying any kind of attention, it was no wonder that he was over-joyed to meet Finley. A kiss on a fore-head made things even better for the boy - he raised to his hind legs and reached out with the forepaws, trying to hug, whatever body-part of Finley was available for him. Be it a leg, a side, a chest or even a butt - nothing was impossible for the boy to hug. 

"Arrrrwwwww..." he growled in reply to her earlier question.

Peter had never been the most active of the new Firebirds. He was certainly not the loudest, nor was he exactly overwhelming with personality. But he was a loving little creature. In many ways, he reminded her of Eljay at this age. Small, quiet, nervous, and fairly clingy. It made her heart tingle with anticipation for the pups that were growing inside of her that she hoped (in that particular moment, at least) would be just as adorably cuddly.

"You don't say..." Fin replied as though he had given an actual response. She picked up a paw to poke a claw gently against his nose, simply for the curiosity of what he might do in response. "You looking for your dad?"

Had Peter understood the question, he would have told her that he was not looking for dad specifically (though it would be fine and Fox would be even better), but that anyone at this moment worked. Since he did not and he simply caught the tone that expected him to say something, the boy simply looked up and beamed at the kind lady, who had come to his rescue and had not refused his hug. 

Then he burried his face in her fur and let out a happy, content sigh. This was nice.

He was a sweet little thing, very much like her own son in so many ways. Fin smiled as he smashed his little self against her, remembering when Eljay used to do the same. Well. He did still do the same technically.. But he was bigger now, and it was very different having something so tiny and young doing so. If only she had realized then that this little boy would shortly break her heart, she may have taken care to guard it against his charms. But Fin was pregnant and he was adorable; she didn't stand a chance.

"How about you and I go for a little walk before I take you back to your ma, hm?" she suggested after a second, pulling away from him. She took a few steps along the shoreline before pausing to make sure he was following.

If there was a thing that you never had to ask Peter twice, then it was about, whether he would like to follow. Sure he did, sure he would! With his initial fear about getting lost and being abandoned wiped away by that sincere hug, he was up and ready for another adventure.

"Eeep!" he squealed in delight and with a rare burst of enthusiasm (rare these days) he sprang after Finley, crashing into her heels first and then taking a step backwards to peer up at her, waiting for the directions.

Peter made what Fin interpreted as a very happy sound, and her tail wagged at the music of it. She thought briefly of the first time she'd met Whip and how she'd wanted him to inspire her to want to have her second litter. Apparently she should have stuffed Whip back over at his mom and picked up Peter instead. He was quite well-versed at being adorable, and Fin felt an excitement wriggling in her belly that soon she would be bringing her own second litter into the world.

 Finley trotted along the water's edge aimlessly. Part of her hoped that something would pop up to amuse them, but so far nothing did. She was alright with that, for all the amusement she needed was hopping along at her side. "I should train you to be obnoxious," she commented idly, "But only at your papa. I like your mom and I like the rest of your family too. I also like your dad I guess, but it's because I like him that I should teach you how to constantly pull on his tail. Or.... Maybe I should teach you how to climb on his back and cling to his scruff all the time and you can be his little puppy cape." Fin smiled at the mental image.

Peter followed Finley obediently, padding as fast as his little feet could carry him, though at times he would stay behind. And the older wolf, who seemed so wrapped up in talking (the boy did not understand a single word from the lengthy speech), didn't notice, when - tired finally - he sat down and watched her retreat with a pitiful gaze. He was out of steam and would not go anywhere, even if it meant being prodded in the sides. Or peed on, which seemed Ferret's favorite way of making his brother do his bidding.

Eventually, when it felt like she was too far (for him, not that she had actually gone away), he let out a discontent whimper.

It took Finley longer than she would ever admit to realize that Peter wasn't with her. When she paused and looked around, she spotted him a couple yards behind. Chiding herself inwardly, she walked back and prodded him gently with her nose. "You're a sleepy boy, huh..." she murmured, then smiled. Maybe a walk wasn't in the cards for today, and so she sighed, thanked god that he was still small enough to be carried, and scooped him up by the nape of his neck to take him back home to his parents who were far better suited to entertain him than she'd ever been.