Hoshor Plains run rabbit run

Liffey had been watchful of her cousin since his induction into their vagabond pack. He seemed to be behaving himself and, much like her family at the Caldera, everyone else seemed to be fond of him in spite of his bizarre, obnoxious and often just plain stupid tendencies. It bothered her less here than it had at the Caldera, and so she was content to simply observe with interest the way her new family regarded the small piece of her old one.

And so, Liffey of course followed when Rannoch lead the little search party out to find their youngest member. She was not as worried as some of the others. Titmouse had been making poor choices and getting himself in trouble for as long as she'd known him and he had come right along without a scratch. She had no reason to suspect this would be any different. At least, not until the unfamiliar yet recognizable scent of bear came to them and the entire scene shifted.

The young Blackthorn knew the scent. Finley had introduced it to her and her siblings when she was young with clear instruction that it was to be avoided. She was not great with distinguishing the scents of different animals, but she always recognized the ones she knew to be dangerous. Her heart crept up into her throat as Rannoch gave orders, Cypress babbled something and ran into the field with Redshank at his heels. Liffey had to fight herself not to run right after them. A bizarre sense of protective instinct for the stupid kid she'd always hated rose inside her, screaming to be allowed to reign. But Rannoch had clearly not wanted them to act yet and if there was anyone in the pack she would have faith in to rescue the little bastard (besides Rannoch himself), it was Cypress who had once saved her.

She still was shaking as she stood, unable to tear her eyes from the scene that was unfolding, not even to look to Rannoch for further instruction.