"My pup!" Sky wailed.

Eclipse woke to an ear-splitting shriek. She ran to Sky's den and found her crying over her lifeless pup.

Birch followed, immediately walking over to the pup. He laid his head on the tiny form. After a few seconds, he lifted his head and shook it in sorrow.

Eclipse walked over to Sky, "I'm sorry," was all she could say.

Sky didn't seem to hear, she just kept repeating, "My pup! Oh, my pup!" and "Why? What did i do to deserve this?"

"We should bury Bird," Berry said, eyes glazed with grief.

Birch picked up the tiny pup, the body limp in his grasp.

Sky seemed to calm when Birch left with her pup, so Eclipse followed the group to the top. Berry scraped a tiny hole, big enough for the pup, and dropped him in. They hung their heads in greif, and after a bit, Berry covered the little form with dirt.

"Eclipse, she won't care for her pups! I tried to talk to her but she only looked at the wall and didn't respond!" Fern exclaimed.

Eclipse dipped her head and barked, "I will try to talk to her." 

She walked past Fern and into Sky's den. She found Sky staring at the far wall, her eyes glazed with sorrow.  Her pups were howling for food, but when they found the milk, Sky shook them off.

"Sky, listen to me," Eclipse reasoned, "Your pup's death was unfortunate, But you need to care for the pups that are still with us! They will soon die, like your other pup, if you don't let them feed!"

A tear dropped from her eye onto her cheek, but she let the pups suck on her tummy.

Satisfied of what she saw, Eclipse left Sky be.

"How's Sky?" Fern asked when Eclipse left the den.

Eclipse sighed, "She is full of grief. It will take a wile until she is normal again."

"Is she feeding her pups?"

"For now, yes."

"Come on, Sky, eat!" Fern nursed.

Sky pushed the vole away without a second glance.

"She's getting worse!" Fern cried.

Eclipse looked on as Fern and Berry tried to make her eat.

Sky was getting skinny. It had been two days since Bird died, and she hadn't aten since. Sky had barely enough milk to feed her pups.

"Please, Sky. You need to eat!" Berry pushed the vole to her mouth.

Sky looked away from the wall and into Berry's eyes. Then dipped her head and nibbled on the vole.

"She seems to listen to you, Berry," Eclipse remarked.

Sky slowly ate away the vole. Her eyes seeming to clear a bit.

Eclipse left to send out a hunting party, she looked around, "Where is puddle?"

"We haven't seen him all day," Stone answered.

"Can you, Willow, Ice ans Sapphire go hunting?" Eclipse asked.

"Yes, how is Sky?" Willow asked.

"She is eating," She answered and watched them leave.

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Hi again! animal_maniac here! how do you like it so far? please comment, tell others, and, of coarse, enjoy!