Redhawk Caldera Things things things

The Gamma felt a tickle and looked down to see the future Phox mouthing her leg. Assuming he was in search of a teat, she gently guided him toward one, giving him a quick lick to encourage him to eat. Her yellow eyes then drifted upward at Eljay's question. She felt a pain stab through the center of her chest and she swallowed. He hadn't meant anything by it, she knew, but it reminded Raven that they didn't have a mother anymore. They didn't have a father either. All of them—herself included—were technically orphans.

"Fox is their mommy," she replied in a quiet, melancholic voice. "We'll make sure they know all about her and dad. Your parents and me, we're going to raise them but we're not going to pretend we're their parents." They hadn't actually talked about this—everything was still so fresh and raw—but Raven knew her godparents wouldn't attempt to mislead the puppies. Sure, they would be too young to understand at first but when they grew up a little and started to talk, their first words wouldn't be things like mommy and daddy but Unc'a El, Aun' Flea and Wave instead.