Tuktu Hinterlands Resonance

Tilting his big red ears to listen, Owen really mistrusted the lively enthusiasm he heard in many of the voices who'd been discussing this whole Firebirds thing and who were now howling up a storm all in chorus. He himself was really not that enthused still. He didn't know how to deal with all of this—and frankly kinda resented it taking away his Eljay AND Niamh too now, it seemed. Those were his puppysitters. He did not think it was fair he be asked to share them, no matter what Eljay said about them always being welcome to visit, and especially so soon after Kite's episode witht he pond it worried him. Yeah, sure, heightwise at least they were all just about full-size, but upon the prospect of losing them he was more convinced than ever that he actually needed them to stay right here where he was, in the Plateau.

Owen glanced up and saw X wheeling high above, lending his distant cries to the wolves' harmony. He could see Elwood not that far away as well, though Owen was a little resentfully thinking that old dustymusty former-leader Elwood of all wolves oughta be over with his new Firebirds already and not here, with his new packmates making such a racket while staking their claim. But, well, it was Redhawks expected to join in too, and maybe plausible deniability of being the wolf who broke the packs' cohesiveness was important...which meant Owen himself oughta do something about this right now too. With a deep, heartfelt sigh, Owen lifted up his head and joined in, his own voice puppyish and wavering and once in a while creaking in its efforts to match all the adults' throatier and richer calls. - Yeah, I'm here too, - he resignedly signed to no one in particular as he halfheartedly sang along.