Swiftcurrent Creek local natives

Fox didn't seem affected by Bones's uncharacteristic display of emotion, offering no response to it. Instead, she asked a question. At least her voice was lighter this time, not so thick with judgment. Bones still cringed inwardly, feeling a difficult mixture of shame, guilt and anger over Fox's blunt points a moment ago.

"He has roots there, a bunch of family members," Bones mumbled. "He has brothers and a sister. One of his brothers is gonna have pups... or he's had them by now, I think. He's my uncle and they're my cousins," she added as if to point out why this was a quandary to her.

Atticus didn't understand that Swiftcurrent Creek was her family and it seemed Fox similarly didn't understand that she had family at the plateau too. She knew the former much better and was inclined to stick with them, sure... but it didn't mean she didn't value her relatives, particularly her father, at the plateau. Hence why she felt so mixed up about everything. She was only a kid, after all!

"I want to stay in the creek. I'm loyal to it," the youth said in a stilted voice a moment later. "I've never wavered," she added, blinking her watery eyes at Captain Fox. "But I still feel bad, like I owe it to me dad and his family to live with them. And there's part of me that does want that but... not enough to leave the creek." She paused. "I'm just torn. I just want to be happy about my decision, to own it. That's all, that's all." If she'd had hands, she would've wrung them.