Lost Creek Hollow i hope every soda you drink already shaken up

It had seemed like a perfectly fine idea up until now -- now that he was leaving, she was quickly realizing she didn't actually want him to head off on this adventure.  Little late for that.  She did her best to bury that thought and seem as stoic as usual, as this was probably necessary, even if she wished it wasn't.  Arbiter wished she could come along as well, but it would be particularly silly for a pack's entire leadership to wander off on a trip -- along with the whole leaving the kids behind thing.  Speaking of which, Terance alone leaving forced other changes, even if she didn't want them -- the pups were with someone other than the pair of them at the moment, and being a control freak she wasn't particularly fond of it.  But it was necessary.

Bring anyone home with you who seems like a good match along the way? she said with a shrug.  Arbiter was glad this hadn't turned into a dire emergency.  There was hope that the pack could continue on, repair itself and thrive, and she'd hold on to the idea as long as she could.  Just make sure that whatever they suggest, it's not just replacing one Rannoch with another.  That was the best way she could think of to phrase her worries.  That somehow instead of the independence they'd been given, they'd end up beholden to someone else, and end up treated the same way when they decide to yank the rug out from under everyone again.  They deserved more than that -- the pack deserved more than that.

Arbiter reached out to nuzzle his cheek, And don't forget I need you back in one piece.  Well, all of them did, technically.