Redhawk Caldera you always knew you'd be the one to work while they all play

It seemed like everything was all Tierra these days. Sphyra was annoyed with her worse half because she was such an attention-seeking crybaby. She ran away because she couldn't handle dad going away for a little bit because he was sick, then ran away again because she couldn't handle dad coming for a visit and then going away again. Tierra didn't care about anyone but herself, and Sphyra hated how she got everyone's necks to turn her way just because she was such an attention-seeking little drama queen. Surely she would pop up again and would be just fine, and right where she wanted to be: in the middle of the spotlight. The adults were just too thick to see that they were being played.

With @Towhee being hurt Sphyra was extra vigilant. With @Caracal being a bit of a crybaby — but the stay-at-home kind — as well, and mom being hurt, Sphyra felt like a lot of the responsibility of keeping the family running was on her shoulders. The pack thankfully had Fennec and Ruenna to look after it, but the family was not doing too well and Sphyra realised all too well that if she didn't step up, it would just keep crumbling apart. So she spent a good deal of her time making sure that everyone was not getting hurt any further, however she could (when she wasn't distracted by playing, anyway; she remained a young child with a matching attention span).

Sphyra had been keeping watch over mom so she could rest her eyes for a bit, but after not so long she got pretty bored playing the stalwart guardian. Still annoyed with Tierra's disappearance and the current absence of a playmate, Sphyra started attacking a nearby bush from different angles: First from the front, then sneaking up on it from the back, then flanking it. It wasn't as good as a real opponent or a real wolf to play with, but it kept her from being bored for now, at least.

Towhee had been through more than her fair share of injuries and physical maladies in her life, yet nothing had taken her down quite like this snakebite. The healing process was long and slow, requiring all of her energy and leaving her stuck in the Hobbit Hole day after day. Her mind could've easily gone to rot, especially with everything else going on, but fortunately Towhee simply slept through most of it.

Today, she felt more awake, a little stronger. She pushed to her feet and wandered outside on shaky legs. Towhee paused in the doorway, leaning against it, and looked down at her bitten paw. It looked jarringly normal. She raised her eyes, watching Sphyra picking a fight with a bush in the middle distance. She wondered where Caracal was right now; she didn't see him.

Of course, she thought of Tierra too. Her stomach tightened. She was dimly aware that search and rescue efforts were underway, though Towhee also knew they were often exercises in futility. All the same, she would probably be out looking too, where she capable. But even at her healthiest and strongest, was there really a damn thing she could do to stop her children—and everyone else, for that matter—from leaving her?

That thought sapped her strength and Towhee sank into a sit. She thought about calling out to her daughter, asking Sphyra how she was doing. But sooner or later, she would leave too. Probably sooner, she thought a little darkly. Hadn't she tried to prepare herself for this: raising her children, knowing they would eventually vamoose, and accepting that as an okay outcome? They were still very young, but it was a mistake to think that meant much around here. She should really try harder to harden her heart, starting right here, right now, with Sphyra.

Fennec would have loved to help in the search for her missing sister but between  Killdeer and Towhee, it made more sense for her to stay here and take care of responsibilities.  She took @Killdeer with her often when she went to take care of her mom as well as on border patrols.  It wasn't the most typical of processes and was a little early, but she didn't have much of a choice with so much of the pack busy with everything going on.  He'd just get a bit of an early start on everything.  Lately he'd likely spent more time in Towhee's den than their own, honestly.

She was coming to do a check in when a sound alerted her to someone attacking..... was that a bush?  The thrashing of branches was unmistakeable and it sounded like one of her younger siblings.  Approaching confirmed it.

Hey half-pint.  You winning?  She asked, smirking.  She hadn't realized yet that Towhee was up and watching, and she silently figured her mom could wait another short while.

If Sphyra was wanting to fight, Fennec could definitely help her out.  She had been antsy ever since Bridget gave up way too easy and could use a (constructive) outlet.  I'm sure it's putting up a hell of a fight, but once you're done, I'd love to see what you've got.

Well... she knew what she meant.

Sphyra didn't even notice mom's approach, even though she'd been guarding her moments ago. But now the bush was the center of attention for Sphyra. She didn't like sitting still.

Fennec's approach did not go unnoticed though, and Sphyra puffed up her cheeks in mild insult when she was called 'half-pint'. She'd show Fennec that she was a... well, full pint, at the very least! Instead of fighting the insult though, Sphyra just answered, Yeah! in return to Fennec's question, and then she lashed out and grabbed onto the bush again. She tugged the bush heavily and a few leaves flew to the ground as she shook her head violently back and forth.

Sphyra was done with the bush pretty quickly when Fennec offered to spar instead, though. Live targets were always better. In response to Fennec's question, Sphyra exclaimed, I got a lot! And she looked at Fennec with an arrogant smirk, even though she totally knew that she would never be able to best Fennec.

When Fennec arrived and her elder and younger daughters began to play, it put Towhee's resolve to the test right away. And she immediately realized there was no way she could simply shut off her feelings for her children, no matter how much loving them hurt, especially when they left. Maybe she did need to harden her heart, though, against the pain rather than her loved ones.

She watched them in silence, the Regent's presence reminding Towhee that she had survived Fen's comings and goings. And look at her now: a fixture here at home, with a child of her own and a leadership rank. Of course, she was the exception to the rule. What about Figment? Alyx and Quetzal? Even Meerkat was rather flighty. But Towhee figured they were happy out there, doing their own thing, and that's all that mattered.

Of course, Tierra wasn't necessarily happy, or safe. She was only three months old. Her case was entirely different and Towhee was stupid to think even for a moment that she could simply accept her daughter's absence and let it go. She didn't know what she could actively do about it right now, though the Sovereign exhaled and let the pain and sense of loss flow freely through her.

I did not realize it was my turn in this for some reason!!

Fennec listened to her thrash the bush wildly and smirked, readying herself. She squared off somewhat, shifting her stance and listening carefully.

Let's go, she said, and that was all the warning she really gave. She lunged in to where she anticipated her younger sister's back legs were. She wouldn't bite hard, and put so little pressure behind it. Her aim was more to trip her up and see how she reacted to it.

Sphyra was ready for it when Fennec came. She was of course rather used to adult wolves letting her win or playing with her rather than seriously sparring, so far. Sphyra came into motion before Fennec reached her, but she was way too slow to prevent getting her legs swiped from underneath her and yelped as she fell on her face.

She fell over onto her back with her paws in the air above her, ready to strike if Fennec would follow up. Sphyra was quick to scramble back to her feet after that and she tried to duck underneath Fennec's stomach and nip at it, using her small size to hopefully be safe from a next attack.

Feeling her feelings for the first time in a while left Towhee utterly exhausted. She couldn't even sit up anymore, her shoulder sliding against the door frame as she sank to the well-worn earth. She leaned her temple against the wall, unwilling to lay down her head just yet or close her drooping eyes.

She kept them open for as long as she could, watching her girls spar. At some point, Towhee would lose the fight to stay awake and conk out with her head lolling against the wall. But until then, she put up her fisticuffs against Mr Sandman.

Carry on without me! :)

restored this so we can trade wrap it!

As soon as she had Sphyra knocked over, Fennec went in for a grab. She didn't bite hard, but she would catch her firmly if she did. Surprisingly, though, her muzzle met (and was knocked aside by) a barrage of paws. Quick thinking!

As was hiding under her. Fennec spun, but instantly realized she wouldn't catch her as well that way. There was an easier way instead.

Rather than try and get her teeth around her once more, Fennec instead decided to collapse her weight on top of her sister. If she caught her under her she'd try and smother her into submission... or see if she'd find some way to wiggle out of it.

At first it seemed like her tactic worked, and Sphyra felt a rush of pride at the realisation. She didn't have much time to spare though as Fennec tried to get around and get to her. She didn't manage, but after a few turns all of a sudden her entire body came down.

Sphyra tried to duck out from underneath Fennec, but she wasn't in time. Her front half was out by Fennec's right side while her other half was stuck. Instead of yelp or complain Sphyra tried to wriggle free, but, in lack of managing, eventually said. You win. That was smart. She unabashedly admitted that Fennec outsmarted her, and hoped that she would grow big so she could use this tactic in the future.

She gave in a little easily, but at least she seemed to be a good sport. A better one that Fennec would have been, not that she was going to put and say that. Fennec stood up with a small smile, then stepped back, letting her younger sister up. If you get caught like that again, you just have to find someplace soft and dig in. Somewhere like..... here. Fennec moved here muzzle on Sphyra's side until she found one of the more tender spots between hips and ribs. You get a paw in there and they'll move.

She'd done well, though. Next time. They'd have to spar again, and maybe Fennec could show her how to knock a larger wolf off-balance. She had no idea how big the twins would end up growing, but right now, she could definitely use the advantage.

Sphyra listened to what Fennec said, absorbing every word and storing it in her brain, and nodded in the end. Yes. She would totally try that again — probably the next time they sparred, if Fennec tried the same tactic — so she could see how it worked. Sphyra loved learning new tactics and then putting them into practise.

Next round? Sphyra asked, eyes shining as she looked at Fennec challengingly. She might have been bested once, but she was not ready to give up.

seems like a good place to fade maybe? :)