Sun Mote Copse time is a revelator;

it bothered arcturus a great deal he was flitting in and out of firebirds. if his heart was not so deadset on wraen, he might have stayed -- not just for duty, but for the fact that firebirds had been a home to him.. but with wraen moving on, arcturus was moving on too. even if it made him feel he was simply using the firebirds.

he never wanted them to think he was someone that came in and slurped up their resources and left. he was happy, on some note, that things could mostly be amicable -- he couldn't say anything about niamh, but towhee was being more than-graceful given the fact they were discussing his eventual deserting of the firebird ranks.

he tried to smile encouragingly in return, for towhee's acceptance of this, and her understanding, meant more to arcturus than he could simply ever say. "i am still sad to go... but i appreciate you -- and the firebirds -- more than you may ever know."