Sun Mote Copse Everybody hates Monday mornings.

after @Wraen had escorted him to firebird's keep, arcturus had kept mostly to himself. an old, rather unshakable part of the ostrega knew he was in someone else's home -- and so, he kept his forays infrequent, and did his best to contribute how he could.

it had been five days since arcturus had fled the keep. five days that he had been consumed by his own grief, unaware that the firebirds had their own double-loss to contend with. he had tried to lay low, and was just coming back from a hunt (one sorry hare in tow) when he caught sight of towhee watching someone -- something -- in the grass.

arcturus knew he needed to make things right by the firebrand; he had been naive, and a bit too thinskinned. it seemed he was swallowing his pride and wallowing in his shame a lot these days.. with a gulp, arcturus cleared his throat -- not even catching the small form that wiggled in the grass in front of towhee..