Heron Lake Plateau Sometimes we're only flying for a while

She had raged when she had returned to Elwood. More than anything she had wanted to tell him all about what had gone down with Raven and Towhee, to vent her frustrations and whine about her hurt feelings and disappointment. But all she'd managed was a few, cryptic sputterings - things like "Towhee just... She. And and then Raven. And... UGH CAN YOU BELIEVE??" which he probably couldn't, because what does any of that even mean. She'd given up her attempts quickly enough, stealing into the den and curling into a tiny ball of grumpy Finley, shutting her eyes, and taking the angriest of power naps. It was her only real defense in a situation like this - just shut it down and recharge before her anger got any more out of control.

When the former beta awoke, the anger seemed to have successfully subsided. She felt simply tired now, and sad, and frankly rather ashamed of herself. She laid there for a little while before she heard Elwood calling to her, and knowing that putting off the conversation was no good, she crawled out of the den on her belly and into the sunlight with all three of her boys. She stopped at a point where she was half in the den and half out of it, looking for all the world like a meek little lamb. She peered up at her mate with sad little doe eyes, glanced to the side and spotting Cinder, pulled the boy over to seat him directly in front of her face. She tucked her muzzle down between her legs and, using her young son as a shield, replied, "No..." in a voice that suggested she knew that she should, but she knew that he would not be happy with her.