The Heartwood imperfection's glow

Oh, well, that must have been nice. Relatively speaking, the same went for Echelon as well. Tartok was just more than a pack. It's span reached significantly far for those that were loyal. And because of that, Tartok was its own family where loyalty ran much thicker and deeper than blood. Technically Echelon would have had a home with them anywhere she had gone, but she had gone back to the source. Being spurned by Siku for her inability to keep sight of Tonravik was only one of many little instances where she had tested the much older's matron's authority. It was simply in her demeanor to do so, just as she had done with Tonravik.

And this time instead of some prompt, sassy answer, Echelon had stopped in her chow long enough to pause thoughtfully. This conversation intrigued her, when she wasn't much of a conversationalist. An aggravator, mostly, that's what she was. She couldn't think of the words to articulate the why of being mean. So she once more simply stated: "Well why wouldn't they?" Family didn't mean love or togetherness, not necessarily. It was a complicated word for their sometimes overly complicated lives.

She returned to noisily chewing, eyes watching Magpie.