They had to sleep sometime. The more Sapsucker thought about it, the more convinced she became that it was up to her to bring daddy home. Mommy had made a mistake, and if she had to convince him to come back despite her stupid brother, then she wasn't about to not try.
In an uncharacteristic display of quiet, she stole out of the den, and somehow managed to navigate her way (completely randomly) to the neighboring forest. To her credit, she barely paused at the borders. Her mind was made up and finding her dad was more important than any trouble she might be in for leaving. They'd understand. She was right.
It wasn't until she got into the trees that she let loose, typical shrieking style. DADDDDYYYYYYYYY!!!!! DADDDYYYYYY WHEREDYOUGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!?!?
She was starting out hot, so by the time her tone eventually escalated, the pitch might be reaching dog whistle similarity.
it was boredom that drew her from the fen, boredom and wanderlust. after the horrors of her wanderings she had thought she'd never want to leave the place she now called home, but to her surprise, it was not long before wanderlust crept back in. no one saw her leave the territory, but if they had she probably would have spent a few moments promising to come back this time. and she would come back. there could be no harm in familiarizing herself with the surrounding forest.
the sun dappled wood was much quieter than the fen, silence broken by the occasional bird call, or by the rustling of the wind through the conifer branches above. it came as a shock, then, when a shrill cry arose. livia winced, then froze, her ears twisting up and forward. her nostrils twitched rapidly until she found the wolf-smell, and then she began to follow it.
in the shadows it was at first difficult to see the dark-phase pup. her fur was the color of soot, the auburn accents along her hackles catching the sunlight. a beautiful little one.
Are you all right? livia asked in her quiet, almost frigid manner, recognizing only now that the child did not smell of brecheliant.
At first Tierra thought that the stranger was Reyes and that he had answered her call. Of course he would; he was daddy and he loved her. He wouldn't leave. DADDY!
She burst forward with a bit of speed, but hit the brakes immediately when a stranger appeared instead.
Her fur spiked up churlishly as soon as she set eyes on the stranger. NO! I wan' daddy. Go away!
It wasn't exactly clear why she couldn't find her daddy with this wolf still here, but there was zero hesitation in the child's abrupt dismissal. She didn't really need a reason. She wasn't who she was looking for so she shouldn't be the one here.
her ears flicked backward at the child's shouting. it seemed the girl had mistaken livia for her father, and, recognizing that this was not true, grew angry. in the blink of an eye, the pup transformed into a disgruntled badger, her hackles sticking straight up along her nape.
livia had never been around children, and she did not understand them.
her jaws parted and she furrowed her brow. "now, where is your father?" her tone was flat and chilly. as much as she did not want to deal with this situation, livia also wasn't the type to, in good conscience, abandon the girl in the forest alone. frightful was her attitude, but small was her size. an eagle probably could swoop her up without much of a problem.
The woman wasn't giving Tierra what she wanted and that frustrated the pup. The girl was reaching an age where she actually had goals, things she wished to obtain, and was therefore just learning the emotions that came with having those go unreceived. It wasn't a good feeling.
No!
She said with a little stamp. It didn't even make sense, she just liked the word. He's here! I gotta find him.
Her little tail flagged up, offended. He left cuz Cackle's a baby. I'm not.
Her little nose scrunched up as she said it, and she gave the stranger a look that pretty much dared her to argue with that. As much as a pup could dare anyone to do anything.