Sun Mote Copse Hidalgo

Eljay listened quietly as others spoke. Daddy mentioned that there were only five adults, which was true, but then again -- they'd managed before, hadn't they? Eljay knew they had a lot of young ones right now, but the Copse was also Wiffle's, and what other options were there anyway? He listened as Wraen tacked on to daddy's words. She seemed torn between staying and trying to make ends meet, or... leaving? She even suggested that the others might want to leave after what happened.

We can't leave! The words were out before he realised it. Eljay had raised his head when he called that out, but now that it was out he felt like he'd said a bad thing and his ears folded back. He licked his lips submissively, hoping that no one was offended by his direct refusal of following Wraen's words. They were born here, all of them. We can't just leave just 'cause... We gotta make it work. We gotta. Eljay frowned thoughtfully, as though he was thinking of a solution right then and there. I'll work harder, I will. And I'm sure Raven will help us out, too. We'll make it work. Eljay's eyes shone with both desperation and confidence -- the latter a rare thing to witness -- but he knew he had to do this, for Wiffle's memory, and for his children. They needed this place. He couldn't just throw it all away.