Redhawk Caldera and a happy new year [birth]

When there was no immediate response from Raven -- or Fox, for that matter -- Elwood stepped forward, until he could see into the den. What he saw was all wrong: the puppies were not at Fox's side, but Raven's, and the Alpha female was still. As the reality of the situation began to sink in, Raven spoke. "She's dead."

Elwood blinked. Dead? How could it be? Only days before, the spitfire of an Alpha female had been full of life. His mouth opened, then closed; he was unable to make sense of what had happened. A few seconds passed as he stared, his gaze shifting from Raven to Fox to the babies and back, and then he heard Finley swearing behind him.

He hadn't even noticed his mate's arrival until her outburst, and when he turned to her, she was sobbing on the ground. Elwood's brain was having a hard time comprehending everything, but the gears did eventually start to turn. Logical Elwood shouldered Emotional Elwood to the side and he took a deep breath. Fox's death meant that the newest firebirds didn't have a mother or father. It also left the pack without an Alpha. Raven was already busily nursing the pups, so as Elwood backpedaled to comfort Finley, he directed a question at his niece. "What can I do to help?" he asked.