There was a gripping silence to follow up her request, no doubt filled with serious stares as Sylva made her way slowly toward the entrance. The next voice she heard though, was Jynx, and the new mother was quick to answer her offer. "Don't worry about us," she started gently, eyes switching between the dark form of Sylva and the light behind her. "I'm really just tired myself; thank you Jynx." She spoke the last words with an audible grin. She was so glad the whole ordeal was over with. This morning had taken a year at least.
The matriarch's attention then settled squarely on her invited guest. She had perhaps never seen the yearling move so carefully, but even so she felt her body shuffle the tiniest bit tighter around the babies, just in case. When at last the girl was about a head's distance away, Raela fought back her protective instincts long enough to pull the shroud of her tail back and reveal the precious new lives. Sylva seemed riveted.
A smile crept across her face, broadening slowly with the yearling's words. For once, she couldn't bring herself to speak; it didn't seem necessary at all. This was the first time Sylva would have seen puppies, she supposed, and for Raela it was the first time that they were really hers. She let the moment draw on in the darkness, until at last the spell seemed to ebb, and the Notch's resident yearling retreated into the sunlight with a quiet 'thank you' for her husband. The Queen watched her leave, then curled her tail back onto the murmuring children. She nudged each with her nose once more, content with the knowledge that she was keeping them warm, and that the pack outside would keep them safe.