Sun Mote Copse let the river run

Her heart twisted into knots at the look her son gave her. It was such a beautiful thing to see him smile, but it was heartbreaking to see the sadness and pain that etched every curve of it. Her own heart was wounded still over Wildfire's loss. From the very start, Wiffle had been her (secret) favorite of Fox's and Peregrine's offspring, and while they had continued to give birth to children that would challenge that rank, Wildfire had always remained incredibly special in her heart. She always would be.

Finley didn't have a follow-up to her hello. She and Eljay had shared many quiet, comfortable silences before, and she didn't mind beginning another. Someone was quick to interrupt that before she'd even begun to settle in. She looked over to spot Maia--a girl she didn't know well, but had always appreciated from afar. She smiled, finding her spirit welcome if a little out of place. "Come on over," she invited, "Grab a drink, pull up a chair." Her tail wagged.

"How have you been settling in, Maia?" Fin asked, taking charge in pressing the conversation in some direction. Maia had been with them for a little while, but she felt it was still an appropriate enough question to ask.