down but not out

It was a quiet group that listened to her words. She knew how they felt, certainly - she was exhausted from the fight, sore, and heartsick, and she knew they all felt similarly. Perhaps she should have waited, but she didn't want to leave them all brooding over their failure. So it wasn't entirely surprising, perhaps, to see them all so silent as her words faded with the smoke from the fire. Alarr was looking thoughtful, though, and she was pleased when Cloudburst spoke up. She'd have willingly entrusted any of the pack's fighters to lead them, knowing her own skills lay elsewhere, but both Cloudburst and Alarr had the age and experience to gain the attention and respect of the others, she felt, but she wasn't disappointed in Alarr when he ultimately stayed silent and left Cloudburst as the sole volunteer. Alarr was their best-trained healer, and perhaps it was better not to have his attention divided by training and leading the fighters as well. He did look... saddened by something, though, and she took a moment to pat his paw with her own comfortingly, though she didn't know what she was comforting him for, before she turned to Cloudburst. "Thank you," she said to Cloudburst. "I would be happy to have you lead the fighters. I'd like you to start working with the pack guardians as soon as everyone is up to it again." The elderly wolf would no doubt be retiring from the position relatively soon, but in the meantime there would be a leader for them and he could train his replacement for a seamless transition when he did need to step down and take things easier. "Does anyone have any ideas to share for improving our defenses?" she repeated. She didn't want to drag the meeting out when they were all tired, but it was important to get them thinking instead of brooding, and it would give the tea time to relax their sore bodies and hearts.