Heron Lake Plateau Chocolate outline

He frowned.  Quixote might not be the one with the answer she wanted to hear.  Like if this had just happened, why hadn't she tried to put out the created fires on her own?  Pack mates were allowed to not like each other.  So what was all this all really over?  Rank?  Did Niamh think Screech was somehow the most eligible bachelor despite his not-great behavior and the fact he was currently the least useful member of the pack?  Was this how Towhee vs Colt would have gone if Towhee didn't have the rank to back up her words?  Huh, maybe.  In case you didn't notice, damn near everyone here with a stripe is a loose cannon in one way or another.  Colt versus Towhee's disability, Finley freaking out when they were promoted, all of Finley's crazy kids...

What sounded 'off' to him wasn't Ceara, but Niamh's weird obsession over Screech, which she'd sort of hinted at in their last conversation.  Like what had that guy ever done to deserve that dedication?  Quixote was also relatively blind to the fact that he would probably be even worse if he'd been in that position and it was someone he cared about -- since it was Screech, he'd pretty much stayed away from the whole thing, as he wasn't much help in the first place.  Screech isn't just your responsibility.  Maybe it was wrong that we let you keep him in your den if it's making you feel that way.  Last I checked he wasn't your mate, son, brother, or even distant family -- she might be closer to that than you, technically since they're all adopted kind of or whatever, hell if I know.  Yeah, sure, Screech hasn't earned himself a ton of fans, but you've still got a whole pack to pick from who could help you.  Not that Quixote had taken his own advice until forced to, or even liked the idea, but even when he was trying hard, he wasn't too close to burning out.  Yet.

You ever think maybe she popped in because she wanted to help?  Ceara's been everywhere helping out, so I wouldn't put it past her.  That's why she's shot up the ranks -- not fighting for them, but seems like she's been trying to be the most useful wolf around.  He gave her a somewhat critical look at that.  Did she see how she was acting or was it too close to her own nose? You say you maybe overreacted.  Maybe she took it personally?  Not that it excuses her, but it probably didn't help if you were both freaking out.