Sun Mote Copse Brave as a noun

Her comment hit a nerve. A big one, and Phox bristled. It was one thing to make jokes with Towhee about her inability to hear, but it was an entirely different scenario to make fun of her while she wasn't even here. Phox was vehemently protective of Towhee, Figment, and Fennec, and Niamh should have known that. At least she was quick to realize her mistake, even if she didn't apologize for it. He was beginning to realize just how hypocritical she was, and... well, it wasn't a great quality.

She brought up Nellie again, and Phox closed his eyes, shaking his head. I've already apologized, he said, hoping to maybe refresh her memory. She's here; she's alive. Hate me for it all you want, but what's been done is done. Phox felt he'd done his part. If she needed more time, that was fine. If she never forgave him for it, that was fine too, but it would also likely be the end the beginning for them.

Phox still wondered if she had asked Nellie why she'd wanted it to be a secret, but he wasn't about to tell her how to talk to her own daughter. Something told him that wouldn't go over well. But that didn't mean that he, a concerned pack-mate, couldn't ask Nellie on his own, and he intended to do just that whenever he bumped into her again.