Phoenix Maplewood What of the Children

It had been nearly 2 months since the incident. Since their home in the Dawnlark Plains caught on fire and forced their pack members from their dens. Even though they hadn't been there too long compared to the plateau, it was still their home and moving was not something she wanted to get used to. It was also the only home that her children had ever known.

But the thing that had been weighing on her mind the most was the fact that it had been 2 months since she last saw Shale. She wasn't dumb, and knew that it was very possible that he had been taken by the flames in his attempt to help others, but not knowing for sure dwelled on her. She didn't want to give up hope that he was still alive out there somewhere. Injured and unable to return home at the time. But she also didn't want to spend the rest of her life waiting for him if he was never going to return.

Her worry had consumed her mind. Distracting her from almost everything else around her. There were changes in the pack that she didn't understand or hadn't yet learned merely due to her lack of inquiry. But something clicked in her mind that day and her first priority was to speak to her children.

They were not well versed in the subject of death and loss. Pema understood them but still didn't know what to think about Shale. She had no idea what was going through her children's minds. Where they thought their father might be, and what they thought about his current condition.

She called out to her children that day, @Timberlake, @Radcliffe, @Meadow, @Padma to have a serious talk with them.

Her mothers call broke the girls concentration. He gaze focused fully on the tast at hand, tracking the rabbit that was milling about the Maplewood. Padma had kept her distance from almost everyone, her siblings and her mother. He father had dropped her off before leaving her and returning to the heat that had driven them from thier home. She was still unsure of what it was, what had caused the evacuation, or the disappearance of her father. He had yet to return. Thankfully the concept of time was only just starting to dawn on the young girl.

Venturing toward the call of her mother Padma approached the woman with much less exuberence that she would have two months ago. Having only seen her mother more in passing that in actually conversation, Padma was a little hesitant as to what had changed after the fire, but she wondered if they had done something to disappoint their parents. Was that why they had been so distant.

Radcliffe heard a call that immediately brightened his spirits. His heart was doing flip flops and right away. He ran and ran till he made it to his mother, and soon he was up against her, nuzzling against one of her legs. "Mother" he murmured quietly as he got up close to her, having missed being this close.

Radcliffe was quick to come to her call and eagerly came to nuzzle against her leg. She lowered her head and returned his affection with a head nuzzle of her own. Her sweet sun-kissed boy, not appearing to be any worse for wears. As though his father's absence hadn't even been noticed by him. It made her rethink her plan. Would it be better if they simply didn't know?

Shortly after Padma came around much less energetic than Radcliffe. She seemed to be having the opposite reaction to the situation. Her energy had definitely changed over the last 2 months. She couldn't be sure that it was a side effect of their absent father, but she assumed it was a pretty good guess.

(PPC) Meadow joined them soon after and sat beside her siblings. Pema waited a few minutes longer and called out again to see if Timberlake would be able to join them. When he didn't show she was disappointed but assumed his attention had been taken by another member of the pack. She could talk to him later on, but for now, 3/4 was pretty good.

She wasn't sure how to bring up the subject. It seemed a bit blunt to just jump into things, especially since she didn't know what was going on in their heads. To see where they were all at she thought to ask a question first. "Well it looks like Timber won't be able to join us, but we can catch up with him later. How are we all doing? I know the move is a big change from what you're used to. Do you guys have any questions about all this?" this would give her a pretty good idea of where they were all at and what mood to set the conversation when the subject of Shale needed to come up.

Radcliffe had his tail wagging behind him, even as it all came crashing down on him. The emotions he held, just seeing his mother he cried a little against her leg. He sat, keeping as close as he could and merely gave a glance to Meadow with a sad look in his eyes. 

He had one question. Only one... "Where is father?" he asked, finally looking up. Radcliffe had cared deeply for his father, and he had been feeling lonely. Mother having called him made all the emotions break out.

When she saw Radcliffe begin to cry she knew that all these recent changed was really getting to her children. The cheerest of them all was huddled against her leg tightly, tears running on his face. She lowered her head to nuzzle him and lick the tears from his cheeks. "You're ok Cliffe"  she cooed at him. It was all she could really say, that he would be ok. She would do her best to make certain of it.

Then he asked about their father and she wasn't 100% sure how to respond. "You know honey I'm not sure."  she stated responding to Radcliffe's question but looking at her other children knowing they probably had the same question. "He went missing after the fire and that's all I know. I went looking for him a few days after but couldn't find him or any signs that he might have left behind."  she responded honestly. This experience just made her miss him more. His leaving also meant that she was alone with her children. Her first litter. His absence also meant that she would have to do these parenting things on her own. "I know it's now what you want to hear... but I don't think Dad is going to come back." she stated feeling tense about what the next response might be.

Radcliffe went quiet as his mother took care of him. Licking away his tears from his face, nuzzle him to calm his mind. The answer that he received did not ease his heart, not initially. As she continued, he wept more and more and his heart ached. He wanted his father. Rad went quiet as soon as he heard those last words, then...

And then he cried out, hearing his father would not come back. That he was truly...truly gone. Putting his face against his mother's fur, trying to soften the cries at least.

Not sure if @Meadow or @Padma is able to join in, but please feel free.

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As little Radcliffe continued to cry and wail it hit Pema deep within her heart. She wasn't sure what to do. There wasn't anything thing she could do. He was crying because his father was gone, and there was nothing she could do to have him come back. She lowered herself so that she was laying beside him. Looking to him and her other children. The only thing she could think to say was, "I know. I miss him too."

Radcliffe continued to cry out, to wail for his father. It exhausted him to cry so much, but he did not care. He put his head right against his mother as she laid down, crying into her fur. Until...he grew quiet. His little chest heaving slowly as he slid to the ground, still laying against his mother. Having cried himself to exhaustion, occasionally whimpering.