Welp, it was confirmed. She was expecting her third litter. Honestly, she didn't think it could happen outside of her heat season, but it seemed that it did, and this time with someone who genuinely cared about her. Who loved her. Hell, she hasn't expected their passionate night to result in anything at all considering she was getting older, but clearly, anything could happen. Rue was aware. But of course her eldest daughter always seemed to know what was going on before anything could be said. She was highly observant, and rarely missed a thing. But the others? Ripper and Grim were unlikely to care too much. But what about Red? Change was something that not everyone took to right away, so she was advised that it'd be best to let him know one on one before the next pack meeting so that he didn't feel blindsided. After all, she still wanted him to take over when he was ready for it. Seeking him out, she gently called for him, unsure where her golden boy might be.

"Speech"

The forest was steeped in dusk when Redrum emerged from the undergrowth, the heavy weight of his kill slung across his back, fur soaked and matted with blood that trickled down his legs. Each step made the lifeless body sway, a muted thump against his spine that blended into the steady rhythm of his breaths, calming from the chase. His ears, long and attentive, pricked up when he heard his name—soft, familiar, and warm. It pulled him from his musings as he lifted his head, eyes narrowing to adjust to the waning light.

He let the carcass slip from his shoulders, hitting the ground with a wet thud as he made his way toward her. The scent in the air was... different. Red’s nostrils flared, picking up hints of something both familiar and new, stirring memories of his mother’s scent when he was still within the whelping den. But he shrugged it off, thinking maybe it had just been too long since he'd last had a proper moment to spend with his mother. He nodded to one of his falcons, sending it off to find someone to come collect his kill for the food stores. Then he was off in search of Medusa, quick on his feet and like a blade through the tall grasses.

“Mother?” he asked, his voice halting, heavy with curiosity as he watched her closely. The blood clung to his paws, darkening the ground beneath them. His golden gaze soft as he took in the sight of his mother, a hint of wariness lurking behind it. Why had she called for him?

""