Moonspear ^_________________^

Told’ja! Also, I have no chill, so this is set on the 18th or thereabouts. :)

Everything fell apart the very first night in a new village.

Treepie realized—with a stark sense of horrible finality—that she couldn’t do this. Her dreams of leadership officially shriveled as she slunk to the fringes of the unfamiliar territory. That was where she stayed the next several nights, fighting with herself as her dreams continued to whither, then eventually died an agonizing death.

Sialuk and @Tikaani didn’t leave her to her own devices, though whenever they came to check on her, Pie only felt more and more like a miserable failure. To make matters worse, she could see they were enjoying this foray away from Moonspear. Her anaa in particular looked happier than Tiuttuk could ever remember seeing her, after striking up several easy friendships with the village’s residents.

Pie simply wasn’t a socialite like her mother. She wasn’t destined to follow in the High Sage’s footsteps. By the end of the week, a resigned Treepie came to accept these things about herself. She decided she would go home, hopefully taking Tiki back with her.

It grieved her to part from her anaa, though Pie would encourage her to stay where she’d finally found some semblance of joy again. Perhaps once Tiuttuk stopped dragging her down and left, it would free Sialuk to properly embrace this new chapter of well-being. She deserved to be happy.

I’ll help look after Moonspear, she murmured against a pale cheek as she kissed Sialuk goodbye.

Only days after leaving with delusions of grandeur, Tiuttuk came slinking humbly to the foot of the mountain. Despite confronting her shortcomings and missing her mother, she felt a flicker of joyous relief at returning to Moonspear.

I hope you don't mind a +2! (and Alyssa, just a little PP to get things moving - let me know if it's not okay)

@Nayati had returned. The lad had gone off looking for her brother, to no avail. With Pie and Tiki out of town, the Spear had been devoid of youngsters for the first time in a long while. 

But then came Nayati—and now, Treepie again!

With Moonshadow's cinder-pelted boy in tow, Killdeer greeted his daughter with a warm chuff and trotted forward to nuzzle at her cheek. Happy to see you again, kiddo, he told her softly, smiling. He gestured toward Nayati, the expression on his face broadening. And look who's back!

The mountain would undoubtedly be different in Sialuk's absence; the silver woman, after all, had been the heart and soul of Moonspear. How could they continue without her?

More and more, his conversation with Towhee—and the shadow of the caldera—weighed heavy on his mind.

Just a cameo unless needed

Tiki had been a little behind her sister. She had enjoyed their stay in the far off village, but it hadn't meant a thing when Pie decided to leave amd come back. She had taken longer to say goodbye to some of the youngsters and then she had been distracted by different things on their walk home. As she always was. A smile though when she caught up to pie. And a nod to their dad. She wagged her tail and then waited quietly. To be there if Pie needed her.

He didn’t know where his mama was and nice was still nowhere to be found so now the boy only knew to go home which he did. Finding his father and he hoped to see his sister once more. 

He sulked a bit; he missed him mom and siblings. His heart ached for them. He didn’t know what had happened since he’d been gone. “So what have I missed?” He questioned. He would give a soft nudge to his sister if she allowed it.

It wasn’t long before someone approached to receive the mountain’s wayward daughters. Treepie didn’t know why she felt surprised by Killdeer’s warm reception. Wasn’t he shocked—and disappointed—to see her back already? She didn’t dare voice this, instead leaning gratefully into her taataa as he pointed out the wolf lurking behind him.

It took entirely too much effort to pull her lips into a smile and it didn’t quite reach her yellow eyes. But Tiuttuk was glad to see Nayati. She looked over at Tikaani, glad for her half-sister particularly, though she wondered about their brothers and mother. Pie didn’t have the heart to ask about that just now, instead focusing on this small, tightly-knit reunion.

Anaa stayed. She was happy there. I was not, Tiuttuk thought, leaving the obvious unsaid. I told her I’d help look after Moonspear in her stead, even if it wasn’t as part of its leadership. Eager not to dwell on that, she punctuated Nayati’s query with, Has anything happened while we were away?

She and Tiki hadn’t been gone long at all—a thought which had Treepie swallowing against a lump of shame in her throat—and she hoped everything had been quiet and peaceful upon the mount. But there was a look in Killdeer’s eye that made her wonder.

Soon after Treepie, Tikaani followed. He happily gathered his girls into his embrace and then stepped back. Of course, Sialuk would be staying away. He thought that Pie and Tiki would remain there longer—but he was not at all displeased that they were back so soon.

Well, let's get to it, Killdeer remarked, nodding up toward the Spear's summit and beginning the trek up to their rendezvous. In response to Nayati's and Pie's questions, he replied, Not much. There was a wedding in our neighbor's pack I think you missed, Nayati, but nothing else of note.

Nothing, except Sialuk was gone. It felt as if the world tilted on a new axis in the wake of that change.

How was your trip? he asked the sisters, moving at a steady trot as they weaved through the alpine forest. See anything interesting?

Skipping Tikaani and Nayati as instructed. Feel free to hop in again whenever you two like, of course!

The group of four began ascending the mountain. Treepie couldn’t wait to get back to the familiar old rendezvous site, though she was a bit more hesitant about paying a visit to Sialuk’s ulaq. It would be so strange to be there without her; it felt almost sacrilege. But on the way home, she’d decided she would keep it warm for her anaa. She was determined to keep her silent promise, even if it was hard.

Killdeer and the other two chatted a little as they climbed, though it wasn’t long before her dad directed a question her way. Pie looked up at him before her eyes skirted toward the groves of alpines on every side. She chewed at her lower lip, hoping Tiki would fill the silence, but her half-sister seemed to be waiting for Tiuttuk to say something. It had been her retreat, thus her story to tell.

I don’t want to talk about it right now, she said, then realizing how pointy that sounded, she hastily added, Sorry, taataa. I’ll tell you about it later. I promise. I just need some time.

It was too fresh. And though she was happy to see Nayati, Treepie didn’t want to divulge all her failures in front of him. She didn’t even want to rehash it with Tiki. It wasn’t about them, or their father. Tiuttuk just needed a little time to settle herself and lick her wounds. And, really, she could think of no place more appropriate than the former High Sage’s den.

His brows drew together at Treepie's response, but he otherwise nodded, replying, Okay, Pie, no problem.

It was odd, though. What had happened? Had she been hurt? The possibilities raced through his mind, and it took more than a little effort to stuff them down.

The quartet reached the rendezvous, and he slackened his pace, giving the kids a nuzzle upon their heads. Killdeer looked around the space with a sigh, thinking of Sialuk—or, rather, her absence.

Anybody got something fun to share? he asked, cocking his head. 

If no one piped up, he'd go in search of Amalia, still worrying for Treepie and her mother.