A buck. There was so much she would ask - but there would be time enough later for that, and for now, she could guess at the rest.
"You're here now," she said again, nudging her over so gently into a canter towards the tree, "you're safe, my darling. Whatever happens, I'm with you."
A subtle nod to the buck, and the little party was on the move to shelter. There would be much to come at the feather tree now. It had been good that her fledglings had flown the nest after all. The Swampmother, she could not help but think, worked in mysterious ways - but, oh, if only her dear Be Mine could have been spared the pain. She would be with her, every step she had to take. Alas that it was all she could do.