Sun Mote Copse Whenever you need an alibi for all your wicked schemes

Fennec said she didn't know yet. Of course she didn't know yet. Eljay frowned at that... What if it meant forever? He felt nervous about that thought... Mostly because it didn't mesh well with his own tentative thoughts of departure. What if he didn't... couldn't... What if he could never leave? It seemed in that moment like they'd always need him.

Fennec confirmed that she considered staying with them. Not in so many words, but she said it anyway. They didn't have a healer. And the Firebirds had him.

Eljay swallowed as he tried to set his own worries and plans aside so that he could be happy for Fennec, who was young and had her whole life ahead of her. He was getting older, he was a homebody, and wolves relied on him. It made sense for him to stay and for her to go.

That... That makes sense, Eljay said, very bad at hiding that the news didn't hit him very well. That's nice -- I'm happy for you. Even though she had pretty much said that she hadn't really decided yet. And uh, of course we can keep learning. You're always welcome. Eljay smiled, though the smile was forced and he couldn't help but think of his own plans, which seemed like they might never blossom.