Redhawk Caldera i warn you not to doubt the silence before the storm

Eljay still had no type of plan ready to face his family with. He didn't know what he would say. The closer they came, the more he recognised places — the looming Caldera in the background, Lake Rodney — the more nervous he grew. He was quieter, though it was likely the pups that noticed this the very most, and reminded himself they were here to save Wiffle, not for him to have a nervous breakdown. He didn't matter in the whole, and he should just stay to the background.

As they approached the borders his tail was tucked between his legs and he stayed in the back quietly, hoping they wouldn't notice him... somehow. He licked his lips in nervosity and submission and thought of all the things that could go horribly wrong with this meeting.

Of course, as soon as the first arrived — Towhee, how big she was now! he felt a pang of regret — instantly recognised him. How foolish of him to think that he could get away with visiting here and not being recognised as his pathetic self.

His attention was quickly roved from Towhee however as mommy showed up by her side and stared at him like she had seen a ghost. He looked at her for a moment with a guilty frown, longing to go to her side and be with her forever. His mouth was dry and he licked his lips, his body language radiating how uncomfortable he was as he took a tiny step forward as daddy arrived. Oh, how he wanted nothing more than to run towards them and bury his face in their fur and say sorry that he had ever left at all.

Wiffle's appearance was largely lost on him as his heart felt much the same reaction necessary as Blixen showed. He stepped forward a bit more but it was like there was an invisible wall between them that he could not pass. A whine escape him as he stared at his parents, frozen in much the same way as mommy. He hoped and wished they would be the ones to close the distance so that he could bury his face in their fur and everything would be okay again.