Heron Lake Plateau she's tore up plenty, but she'll fly true

Sorry for the hold-up! Took me a bit to think about how Raven would react to this.

Raven was so insulted by Finley's response -- or lack thereof -- that she was left numb and speechless in the wake of her aunt's sudden departure. The empty, indifferent "congrats" given by the Blackthorn woman Raven had always idolized felt more like a middle finger than anything else. Raven just stood there, stunned, watching her aunt walk away and barely registering anything that Towhee said beside her.

She wanted to be happy for her first chance at romance. The fact that she might be carrying her first litter of pups should have filled her with joy, but at that moment, it felt like a curse. The budding relationship between her and Quixote felt wrong somehow. She had always thought that when this moment in her life came, her aunt would be there to guide her and mentor her through her first pregnancy. Finley knew how badly Raven had wanted a mate and a family of her own, so she had to know how horribly she'd just gutted the young medic.

And to just quit her position like that...why? It was understandable that she'd be angry with Towhee, but why take it out on Raven like that? Did she really think so little of Raven and her potential as a leader? Granted, Raven didn't think much of herself in the role at that moment either, but...damn. Bitterness rose in her as she realized that maybe she just wasn't Finley's favorite Redhawk kid. Everything had been shiny when Towhee was alpha, but now that weird little Raven had stepped into the position, Finley was disgusted and wanted nothing to do with it.

The stunned shock began a slow simmer toward wounded anger. Something cold came into her eyes as Finley disappeared into the distance and her ears flattened back on her head. Fine, she thought to herself. I see how it is. Suddenly she felt Towhee's forehead pressed to her neck and her earlier ire with her sister was almost completely forgotten. As Towhee bumped her chin, Raven smiled weakly and tried to relax. Her sister's promise of support heartened her. "I'm going to need it," she said, her dry voice barely above a whisper. "But on the bright side, it looks like I already have a new beta."