Redhawk Caldera There's no place like home

Wildfire had missed her mother for the obvious reasons: she hadn't gone a day in her life without seeing Fox's face. There was another reason she had pined during the Alpha female's absence; she wanted to go with her. She was quite ready to see more of the world than her currently limited view. She wanted to swim in the sea with Pan and heckle bears with Finley. While recruiting strangers didn't really strike her fancy, she would have gone with Fox if her mother had let her, sacrificing her comfort for the chance to get out there on the road.

Now Fox was back. Wildfire would naturally beg to go along next time. For now, the pup simply enjoyed her mother's company for the first time in several days. After sharing lunch, the leader meandered away to tend to her duties, leaving both her daughters at the clearing, their Aunt @Magpie lounging nearby. Wildfire watched as Raven went up to the yearling to ask her about something or other, then drifted away in the opposite direction. Her wanderlust really was growing lately.

She didn't stop at the clearing's edge, slipping into the thicker scrub and then much further downhill, on a small hillock overlooking the lake. The little dhole stood there a moment, her black tail twitching as she deliberated her next move. Should she head back... or continue?