Hideaway Strath How I wish you were here

With her feelings slightly more under control, and her emotions dimming from a bright, furious flicker to nothing more than flickering embers, Niamh sighed. he would return to the Copse, as she hadn't exactly received the welcome she'd hoped for from Phox and Towhee. It was for the best, she told herself; for the best for her, and for Phox and Towhee, and for the Firebirds if she simply returned home and kept doing her job. They needed her- which should have made her feel important, but instead made her end up feeling as though she was pulling more weight than she ought to. She would have to sort out those feelings later; she had too much on her plate presently to be able to separate one stressful situation from another. 

Phox's offer was kind, but Niamh had already begun to withdraw- if not physically, then mentally and emotionally. She felt more tired now than she'd anticipated feeling, and simply wanted to return home, sneak away to her den and stay there for quite some time. -That's kind...But I should get back to my kids,- She said. She glanced from one to the other, giving both a sad, but meaningful look with which she couldn't help but portray a bit of her disappointment, though she'd intended to give them something more along the lines of an appreciative smile. Her features simply wouldn't cooperate and create a mask that it did not feel it was right to wear. -Another time, maybe...And maybe I could bring the kids for a visit?- She asked, putting in a small effort to seem somewhat optimistic and gracious, though it cost her more energy than she'd anticipated to brighten her mood.