(wc: 581)
If Blood Falcon had to make her opinion known at this time, she would say: when it came to pups, girls were far easier to handle than boys were. Girls understood almost innately what they needed to be doing, matured faster, and in general were independent. That was how she and Sully had been, and that was how it went with her litter. River Hawk, Silver Bird Siren, Whispering Night Sparrow - not so much as a peep of trouble out of them. In fact, she had learned recently that River Hawk had made a grandmother out of her, and she couldn't be more delighted.
But boys... Oh, the boys were something else.
Blackwater Raptor had always needed a little more help than others, and it hadn't been his fault: his headaches had debilitated him from the get-go, and it had shaped his character immeasurably: made him meek, self-doubting, afraid of being a further burden. For weeks, she had wondered if she couldn't do something more for him. Blood Falcon knew she would always be indebted to her sister for helping him with her healing arts, herbs that had curbed the worst edges of pain and allowed her baby boy to work as a gatherer as recompense. A safe job in a not always safe working environment.
But Song of the Nightingale...If what her mate had told her was true, then she really needed to step in. Why hadn't anyone else yet? Not that Blood Falcon would accept not acting in her maternal duties, but surely someone else had noticed how her other son had been acting out. And if her suspicions were right, that it was about this girl Red...It was both endearing and disappointing to hear Nightingale had acted out like this. Lover boy, she had thought with a sigh and a shake of her head as she laid next to Azure, half asleep. Love made mad wolves of everyone, but she would need to curb him before it got further out of paw. And accompanying Azure on the job? Totally unacceptable. None of her children ought to be assassins like their father as far was she was concerned.
And speaking of her children -- Night Fell had been consumed by doubts as well. It was uncharacteristic of the normally roguish alpha-to-be, and Blood Falcon hoped that he took her words to heart. There was only so much a mother could do for both her blood and for those she called blood--and Blood Falcon wanted to do more beyond even that. It was frustrating, not being able to simply reach out and quash these problems herself for her poor, sweet boys. All of them deserved the world in her eyes. And yet the distance that kept her from most of them...
Blood Falcon briefly entertained yet again asking Night Fell to consolidate his power with Big Bad. Certainl a huge pack that would form from their union could be co-alpha'd within the same living space, leaving her free to be with her family whenever she pleased. And then she sighed softly and scooted closer to Azure.
These were precious moments she had with him. With all of them. If and when they decided to have another litter, Blood Falcon decided, she would do better. She would have more experience and be a more present mother in their lives, whatever packs they ended up at. And they would simply have to make do with her nosiness.
After all, a mother always knew best.
