A predicament to be resolved

[Tsukikage]

Kage sighed sadly. "It was something he needed to hear, babe. In a lot of ways, he's still my little bro, but if I'm supposed to respect him as a leader now, he's got to act like one, and stop running to me with his tail between his legs. He's got Hitoban, if he needs support, and dad if he needs advice..."
He glanced down at the pups sprawled about near and on him, and smiled. "I've got new priorities now. Although, to be honest, I thought you'd be pulling pillow duty, being the mom and all. Hehe..."
He grinned up at Dawn, his one eye twinkling for just a moment -- then the familiar pain set in. He hadn't felt it in such a long time. He gritted his teeth, and tears rolled down his face. "Dammit, Tsuki..." he whispered.
Kage stood up slowly, so as not to wake the pups, then limped out of the room.

[hitobannofokkusu]

Dawn nodded. Of course he needed to hear it, but maybe not in such a harsh way. But then, Kage always was one to deal in "tough love." He was right, of course, but she was just a little sensitive to the little cruelties in the world due to her new motherly status. She pushed it out of her mind and smiled down at her family. "Oh, well dear, it's clear they find you much more fluffy than me." She laughed lightly, holding her mate's gaze lovingly, making the transition to his pain-stricken features that much harder. She cringed a little as well and looked away. She knew it was the brothers' "twin telepathy," if you will; something that hadn't bothered him for a long while. He stood, some of the pups almost rolling off of him like water, and left.

Dawn moved over to where her babies were and laid down with them. Some of them woke for only a moment and sleepily adjusted themselves to be closer to the warmth, and she pulled the others closer. The winter was cold, and they were vulnerable to it on the cold cave floor.