Sun Mote Copse There's no peace in quiet

"Next time you go to Moonspear, I want to go with."  Fennec had told @Towhee at some point over their stay and subsequent trip back.  She'd not been super talkative over the course of their stay, likely shrugged off as unfamilar territory being uncomfortable for her, but it was one thing she was admant about.

She wanted to see Meerkat, but the bigger reason; she wanted to see Bronco.  He'd been right, and now, all she wanted to do was confirm it and grind Penn's name into the fucking dirt.  Fig didn't like him, but it wasn't the same.  If she wanted to hurt him, then there was no one better than the other Blackthorn.  And yes... she definitely wanted to hurt him.

Being away had made it worse, because it was harder to go too many places alone.  Now that they were back, she felt like she could have her space again, and she took advantage of it by practicing her (pretty horrible) hunting skills.  She could track prey better than most, and prided herself on that, but when she got to this part... the part where she closed in, usually...

Yep.  Fennec cursed softly under her breath as she heard the rabbit take off, but she jumped to sprint after it.  She knew this area well enough to know there were no drops, and if she followed it, there would be no....

Just as she had that thought, her shoulder clipped a tree.  She stopped with a frustrated hiss, but as she listened, there was no trace of the rabbit.  It was gone.

tag for ref, as usual!

Fig had been relieved to hear that Penn was gone, though the emotion came with its share of guilt and remorse. It was no secret that he and Penn didn't like each other, and Fig especially did not like the relationship he'd had with his sister. But he had been a close friend to Fennec and not even Fig could deny that he'd kept her safe and sound while they'd been out traveling together. Penn had given her more freedom and confidence than Fig in all his well-meaning overprotectiveness ever could've mustered.

Fenn's hurt over it was unfortunate, but had always been something Fig had seen as inevitable. Penn had never been reliable in Fig's eyes. He was always going to let her down at some point. It didn't make Figment any less angry about it, but he'd at least been somewhat prepared for it to happen. Fennec hadn't been--that much was clear to him as he watched her move about the Copse in a near constant sullen, short-tempered mood when she should've been happily reunited with her family. Damn Penn Blackthorn...

These were his thoughts as he headed through the Copse towards the borders to start his patrol. They were interrupted by the sudden sound of footsteps--quick ones, rushing in pursuit of something. He turned as he heard the clip, followed promptly by the hiss of frustration. He narrowed his eyes in concern and turned his steps until they brought him to none other then Fennec who had, apparently, just failed in a hunt.

Great timing. "Don't worry--it looked really sickly and diseased," he said, even though he hadn't seen what she'd been after, "Probably would've given you food poisoning. You dodged a bullet." He smiled a little, inwardly considering the double meaning in his last.

She could hope that no one had seen it, but of course, Fig's interruption dashed that dream.  She took a step back and kept her features neutral despite the sting in her shoulder from the scrape.  Fortunately it wasn't long before it faded enough to ignore.

Yeah, caught the smell from back here, so figured I'd give it a head start.  She responded, though she knew he'd know it was a lie.  Her voice didn't hold any annoyance, though, just a casual calm.  She didn't mind all that much when it was Fig who saw... he never called her out on it.  He let her pretend.

You don't know where your favorite sister could find something better, do you? She asked.  She'd started the hunt as something to distract herself, but now that she'd missed, she found she actually was hungry.  For food and... kinda for company.

Figment smiled, though it was a bit rueful. He was happy for how much Fennec had grown in her talent and knowledge in the time she'd been away from the Copse, but he couldn't help but resent that she'd done that growing with Penn. It used to be Fig and Fenn against the world when they were kids. Partners in crime. Never one without the other. He was her protector and she was his bold, adventurous captain. They'd grown more independent of one another long before Penn had ever arrived, but this was the first time it felt like one of them had ever relied more on another wolf than one another. Penn had become her partner, and Fig was on the outskirts looking in. It really hadn't occurred to him before that moment how solitary he'd stood for some time now.

But now Penn was gone. He wasn't sure yet if that meant he had the chance to reclaim his place as her sidekick. He also wasn't sure yet if he should, or if maybe they needed more than just each other. It was an overwhelming thought, and one he really ought to save for later.

So, he did. "That's very charitable of you," he commented with a chuckle, then pondered for a moment. "I knew some places before the flooding, but I wonder if they're still any good," he said thoughtfully, "We can go check them out if you want. There was a clearing I used to have some luck routinely finding grouse in." The flood may very well have changed that, though. Likely the patterns he'd known his prey formerly took had been forced to change since the deluge.

Sure.  Her stomach was growling, and that meant she'd let him take the lead.  Fennec had never been afraid to take offered help, or even ask when it was necessary.  She just preferred to try and fail on her own first, and she absolutely hated when others assumed she needed it.  Where the line lay on assuming vs offering... that was completely arbitrary.  More often than not, it depended on her mood first and the wolf second.

She let a bit of silence fall.  It wasn't awkward, there was nothing pointed behind it, but there was a lot unsaid.  She'd been feeling a lot of different things since Penn left and none of them were things she wanted to particularly discuss with her brother.

She'd thought she found independence, going with him.  But when he left, that door had slammed shut in her face, and it turned out relying on another wolf completely wasnt independence any more than relying on her family was.  It was just a new form of needing, one that came with less ties, but less dependability too.  Maybe Penn had wanted to split sooner, even, and just... hadn't because he knew she needed him there.

At that unpleasant thought, Fennec shifted gears abruptly.  Why'd you really go to Frosthawks?  If she didn't want to dig into her own shit, best bet was to nudge at his.  Maybe it was as simple as wanting to train, but maybe not.

They settled into silence, though it wasn't exactly comfortable for Fig. He knew it should have been, but he couldn't help but doubt himself a little. Was she wondering what his problem was that he wasn't speaking? What was she thinking about? Should he ask? Why weren't they talking? Were they really so disconnected they didn't even talk anymo--

Her question interrupted his silent fretting and he relaxed, but only marginally. Why did he really go to Frosthawks? Well, I never really came up with a reason why he went. It made pretty much no IC sense for his character to do it. I honestly just needed a break. But I guess now I have to come up with something, so thanks for that loloolol.

"I missed Rannoch," Fig admitted after a moment, "Don't get me wrong, I love our family. But I don't know... Sometimes I just feel out of place around Dad and Niamh. And Rannoch was like a mentor to me back at Frosthawks. I guess I just wanted to talk to him about it and get some space for a little while."

I think it works.

That was.... a really boring answer.  Fennec was disappointed by the lack of tea in that response (wow) but it checked out.  Of course Fig would take a trip just because he missed some mentor.  Are you sure it wasn't because Nellie broke your heart, or you saw dad murder Eljay and had to flee the scene?  she asked, a little plaintively.  C'mon, bro.  You have to work on that.  

It was cool she could always trust Fig to be honest though, since he certainly couldn't expect that from her.  That makes sense, though.  It's kinda weird.  Their mom and dad made sense to her.  Towhee and Phox generally saw eye to eye with them, and they'd raised Fig and Fenn in their weird family unit together.  Niamh was a wildcard to throw into the mix, and while Meerkat had felt a lot like their sister, it was harder to see the others.  Mainly because Niamh didnt... really feel like a parent to her.  

Something that was ironic for her to think now, considering where she'd land in a few threads.

Not was weird as everyone leaving, though.  Wraen and Maia, Meerkat and Bronco... and, shit. She'd walked into that one without even meaning to, because while she'd been thinking of their sister when she started, of course he was among that count.

Fig quirked a brow at his sister's response, smiling. He had wondered about Nellie, but they'd never been romantically involved for his heart to be broken. And Phox murdering Eljay was simply absurd. Phox couldn't murder anyone let alone the kindest, gentlest wolf on the planet.

He let it go, though, and just nodded. He couldn't know Fenn's inner monologue, but he would've been a bit relieved to hear it as it reflected his sentiments perfectly. He simply wasn't close to Niamh, so his three little siblings didn't feel as real to him as Fenn and Meerkat. They felt shielded from him, separate, either by his own hang ups or design. He was very willing to bet it was the former.

"I wish I understood better why that happened," he admitted, "It feels like a sore subject, so I haven't really asked. Have you?" He did miss those that had gone. Even Arcturus, who he'd barely had time to learn from.

His question was vague enough that it might have been about any of them, but it also meant she could talk about the ones she wanted first.  

Because he's a selfish idiot who needs to grow a pair.

Meerkat and Bronco, no clue.  It's really weird that he'd go, though, with how mad he was when I was leaving.  Fennec replied, a little drily.  Both of them had already been gone when they returned.  Wraen said it was something about Moonspear for them.  With Meer there and all, guess they didn't like having to be all buddy buddy.  It isn't like we're required to like them just because she's there, but whatever.  She was dismissive of it, but she hadn't been all that thrilled when Wraen left.  It was a bummer.  Despite her foiling some of her attempts when she was younger, the older woman had been a mentor to her in the art of scouting, and it was unfortunate she was gone.

Fig had a suspicion that he understood Meerkat's and Bronco's departures. Meerkat he could see wanting to get out on her own and explore the world. Bronco because he wanted to protect her, or maybe he too wanted to get out after the hurt he'd gone through when Fenn had left. The latter likely being the case, in Fig's estimation, he decided to just nod and not elaborate on his thoughts. After all, he could've been wrong. Maybe it was meant to solidify their alliance with Moonspear. Though if that were the case, shouldn't a member of Moonspear be amongst their ranks?

It was Wraen's plight that he was more curious about. He didn't know about the bad blood between her and Moonspear, though he did suspect it from Arcturus. Why else would he leave his family? He supposed perhaps his feelings could've bled into Wraen's opinion, but it just didn't jive right. Wraen was too strong-minded to adopt anyone's opinions but her own. He missed her.

Maia made the most sense. Where Wraen went, so did her sister. He sighed. "I'm sure you're right--it's all woven in pack politics somehow," Fig commented thoughtfully, "I don't see how it hurts anything, though I also don't see the purpose. If it's driven by Meerkat and Bronce being there, it seems... one-sided. Are we allies so they'll be allowed in Moonspear's ranks? Or are we allies because we want them to be safe in Moonspear's ranks? Either way, what's really in it for Moonspear."

In spite of the suspicious undertones in his comments, he really wasn't worried about it. He was merely curious as to the psychology behind it, as he was with pretty much all things.

Fennec liked the way her brother's thinking was going, but he didn't take it near far enough.  Maybe Meerkat and Bronco are actually collateral, and one of these days we are goin to have to pay up, Fennec said ominously, then bumped Fig playfully with her side.  

Slowly but surely, talking with her brother nearly always improved Fennec's mood.  If there was one thing she could be grateful for it was that she knew things would never change between them.  It didn't matter how independent either of them got, she knew Fig would never pull a stunt on her like he had.

If you ever want to, you know... talk about stuff again.  Let me know.  I'll try not to be rude until you're done.  Fennec didn't really want to thank him since she didn't really want him to know how bad her mood had been pre him showing up, but she could at least kinda offer him a favor in return.  She probably wouldn't be as good a listener as Rannoch, but hey, she could probably kick whoever's ass he was talking about? So that counted for something.

Fenn's words made him wonder. What if they were? He didn't know Moonspear's history, but whatever sort of wolves they were, they weren't the kind Wraen and Arcturus were willing to have any sort of relationship with. The more he thought about it, the less he liked this. But, Fenn's knocked upon his shoulder drove those thoughts back. She was teasing him.

"I suppose it's possible I might be overthinking things," he commented with a small smile, though he was still a little uncertain. Perhaps he would talk to Phox about it sometime. He wished, not for the first or last time, that Rannoch were closer, not knowing of course just how much he would learn if he broached that topic with the Frostfurs.

Her next comment made him pause. He peered sidelong at her, wondering. It was an oddly vulnerable thing of her to say, in spite of her joke at the end. She must really be hurting. Fig frowned softly, then smiled at the gesture. "Really? You'd manage spare all of your eye rolls to the very end?" he teased, nudging her shoulder lightly to thank her without actually saying it. That would simply make her uncomfortable. And on that note...

"You know, you can talk to me too... about stuff," he said, a little more seriously. He wouldn't push her by naming the "stuff" that was specifically on his mind at that moment, but he wanted her to know too that he was there for her.

If Fennec knew she'd gotten him she'd be far too pleased with herself, so it was fortunate his final comment didn't give any of that away.  She let his admission stand, mainly because she wasn't about to state the obvious.  He always overthought things.  It was part of what made him so adorably boring to her.

This was a hard, hard thing he was asking her to do.  She knew the concept of eye rolling and definitely had a hard time controlling when she gave the expression of one.  You're lucky I'm such a loving and caring and wonderful sister.

She knew that next part.  She always knew that next part.  It's just so much more fun to bottle it up unhealthily and then release it on unsuspecting strangers.  Fennec might have been teasing, but the statement wasn't wrong.  That tended to be her modus operandi.  But yeah, I know.  The last bit she let out a bit of a breath.  She'd been more genuine this conversation than she usually liked, but screw it, she knew Fig had her back.  She still wasn't really ready to talk about... well.. any of it.  But maybe at some point when they could laugh about it together.

"I know," he reassured her with a grin. She might think she was being facetious, but Fig knew that her words were true enough. She might do her best to mask those traits under sarcasm and nonchalance, but they were still there and he knew it.

Her next response made him laugh with a little roll of his eyes. He hadn't expected a serious response, but her wit always surprised him. Looking ahead, the landscape brought his attention back to what they were supposed to be doing--finding hunting grounds. He slowed to a stop, leaning slightly against her so she could feel him doing so. He sighed. 

"Well, it's not so much of a clearing anymore as it is a giant mud puddle," Fig informed her, frowning at the muck. He thought it highly unlikely that any sort of prey still roamed around these parts. "What do you think, wanna keep looking, or do some painting?" he asked.

Good, then he was at least smarter than some other wolves she knew.  The thought was unbidden and unwelcome, but she let it hang, because it really did help to draw sharper contrast between her family and others.  Even Towhee and Phox had never really been much for beating around the bush when it came to telling it like it was.

She felt him stop and also did, testing the air out of habit.  She couldn't smell much but wet, something that he confirmed with his next statement.  Fun as painting sounds, let's go grab something first.  Maybe someone else had more luck?  She heard her own stomach gurgle in agreement and smirked.  Then you can paint and I'll sit here and tell you everything you are doing wrong, okay?  Sounded like the perfect afternoon to her.

Instead of taking the bait, Fenn chose to disappoint him, though he was amused in a way. She seemed to take his suggestion to paint rather literally when really, his intention had been to start smearing mud all over her. Perhaps it was for the better, for she did then volunteer to sit there while he "painted" and criticize him. Apparently, she didn't suspect just how much criticism there'd be to share.

Content and entertained, Fig heaved an exaggerated sigh. "Fine, have it your way," he replied, "There's a cache not too far where I stuck a pheasant the other day. Let's go see if it hasn't been taken yet." With a nudge to show her the new direction, he set off again.

wanna archive here, or..? :)

sure thing!!! now that we have a new one :D

See that, here he was, missing an opportunity to completely blindside her!  Waste of a solid advantage there.  She definitely thought he was just making a (slightly overused) joke about her probable inability to paint anything worthwhile.  

Always do, she replied with a cheeky bop to his flank with her tail, then following as he led the way.