Because she loves him like any other queen would love her kits. Would your mother not want to be with you, ESPECIALLY if you were ill? She knows he belongs with him.}
Hawkstripe got the swallow he picked up from the pile and sat it in front of her. He licked her head softly. "How are my kits doing?" He looked at his kits
"They're great. Wake up, little ones." She nosed the kits, who'd stopped nursing a few sunrises ago, though she would still be producing milk for quite awhile.