Sun Mote Copse Keep repeating self-hating phrases

Towhee had been thinking of Firefly Glen a lot the past few days, not only because both of her towheaded daughters were there right now but because the whole concept made her miss the days of the Redhawks' dominion over the hinterlands. Now Raven and Quixote were too far off the map to be a sister pack in anything but name and, of course, the grove had quite literally collapsed. She couldn't help but speculate about which of her children she could encourage to set up shop nearby, in the glade or even the sweep, like Hydra had done with Osiris. She didn't quite share her sister-in-arm's ambitions for conquest, though there was certainly safety in numbers and the family legacy was ever so important to Towhee.

When Alyx requested her attention along with her birth parents', the Sovereign set aside these thoughts, for the most part. As she settled in to hear whatever it was Alyx wanted to say to them, Towhee couldn't help but wonder if Alyx or perhaps her sister might make good leaders someday. She had considered Figment first and foremost, though perhaps one or even both of the twins could be the ones to branch out into one of the neighboring territories. But then the child spoke and her words derailed that train of thought quite effectively.

She had seen her children come and go, Meerkat's departure standing out more starkly than the rest. Just like all the other times, Towhee felt resistant to the idea. But experience had forced her to accept and even expect that children grew up and left to make their own ways in the world, entirely independent of whatever she might envision for them. She would always be sad to see them go and hope for their eventual return, though she met Alyx's declaration with an air of resignation.

Her brother simply wanted to know, -"When?"- Towhee wondered if Niamh would have more to say than her mate and remained mum, giving the girl's mother an opportunity to speak first.