Redhawk Caldera bury me with bourbon next to a moonshine still

kivaluk settles into his roles of raven and father as best he can; checking on @Chickadee and the moonthorn fledglings several times throughout the day, though their support system was overwhelmingly well extremely supportive. and when he wasn't spending time with his wife and babies, he was tracking the herds, monitoring their health, their sizes and their movements.

he does a small quick sweep of the borders on his way back in, unable to turn off ( nor would he want to, really ) any of the heightened protective instincts that his newborns and nursing wife have drawn out of him.

cutting a familiar path towards the den, he cradles a squirrel tail betwixt his jaws, for the children to play with. they seemed to grow between his blinks, which both pleases him ( because he takes this to mean they are healthy ) but also terrifies him. soon, though, he suspects they will start to become more mobile and thus would enjoy toys to play with.

Kivaluk was a great help to the pack, there was no denying that. Eljay used to keep track of the herds himself, but these days, he found his body faltering. His mind was still sharp as ever, but without the endurance to cover a lot of ground in a day, it was of no use to him, as there was little to remember. Perhaps it would have helped him to be in touch more with those agile enough to fill the gaps in his mind with data on the herds, but he never asked; the truth was, Eljay was ashamed. He had always been easy to fall prey to anxiety when it came to his own contributions to his pack, and though he had had several good years where he finally felt as though he did not drag down his pack — rather the opposite — now it came crashing back. So he did not ask, and did what he could.

Spring bringing the blossoms of puppies to the pack had always lightened and brightened Eljay's heart. He had cared for many, many children before he had his own, and it made him beyond happy to not only have grandchildren, but also that Chickadee and Kivaluk had chosen to return to Brecheliant to raise them. He was very involved, and he enjoyed spending time with @Chickadee and the pups every single day, helping where he could.

Eljay did not know Kivaluk well, though he trusted Maia's judgement to have elevated him to a leadership position. He was just on his way to Chickadee, Kivaluk and the pups when he noticed the man walk in the same direction as he did, a squirrel tail between his teeth. Eljay rumbled a low greeting to Kivaluk as he approached. Nice find, he said in friendly manner while he looked at the squirrel tail. From his extensive experience with pups, he knew odds were high that they would love it.

though his father in law had proceeded his approach with a low rumble in greeting, kivaluk still starts; his mind carried away a thousand and one different directions. steps slow and he moves to face eljay in full, giving a small wag of his tail and a chuff 'round the squirrel tail. he sets it down at his paws, thanks, offering eljay a grin.

i had a much loved squirrel tail growing up. my brother and i fought over it. kivaluk's memories of those happy times: before his father left and his mother and then his father again; and his brother somewhere in there too — were very few and far in between.

how're you doing today, sir? kivaluk inquires, grateful for the man's help with the kids; unable to help but call him 'sir' as if he were still that nervous boy that had accompanied chickadee here so many moons ago.