Sleepy Fox Hollow Away from all of reality

Stag didn't believe he was a liar, but for the sake of his family he would never tell the truth.

A similar twisted expression braided itself to his thin jaws; he looked away and the somber expression fled.

"I miss him too but there are other things now. I watch some of the puppies a lot. I try to patrol the borders, but I'm not as good as Mahler or Wylla.." He trailed off, realizing that his mother would be overjoyed to see Monarch. They had to go home.

Yet the hope that Monarch would come home and stay home died in his throat like choking ash, when he caught his sister's gaze and realized that tone meant visit and not stay. Stag nodded dumbly, but couldn't bring himself to speak for fear his voice would crack and betray an emotion too terribly forceful for words. He turned, looking back once (trying to keep his expression soft) before leading the way.