Sun Mote Copse Dance of the sugar plum fairy.

Penn had absolutely not been worried for his sister. Sure, he’d gone out looking for her quite a few times since her disappearance, but that was mostly for his mom’s sake and also because he liked exploring. If he’d come home disappointed about not finding her, it was only because he didn’t like to fail, not because it meant she’d had to spend another night out there all alone and probably scared. What did he care if she got herself eaten by a bear or a mountain lion? It was her own fault for wandering off. It would serve her right.

The boy had been napping in his favorite spot some way always from the space his family occupied as their rendezvous site when the sound of approaching footsteps caused him to stir. He was groggy for only a few seconds before Sugar’s scent suddenly snapped him to attention. He was up and running after only a moment of stunned wonder, barreling over the forest detris. He slowed only a little once his eyes clapped onto his sister, though he did stop short of tackling her fully into the ground when he smashed her into a wolfy embrace with a flurry of happy whines and wagging tails.

It was a nice moment, really. Unfortunately, it lasted all of five seconds before he stepped back, posture tense and angry as he narrowed his eyes at her and snarled, ”Where the hell were you, Small??” In the whirlwind of the moment, he dismissed Towhee’s presence entirely, focusing solely on the littlest Blackthorn.