Broken Antler Fen We don't need to be related to relate.

"Well, as your secret admirer and lover I would jump at the chance and tell you an enthusiastic "yes, yes, YES"," Wraen replied, drawing the joke to an end and becoming serious after this. "But as a co-leader here there are practical reasons that deter us from merging with you now," she said. "My niece - Ibis - is expecting children this spring. Maia and Eljay are having kids too. They'll need all the resources and help they can get," she told. Adding four more would be a bit too much of a stretch. Ironically enough the same four and Niamh's brood that had never seen light at the caldera had been the reason, why Eljay had been turned down. And now... situation was reversed and Wraen was turning Towhee down. She wanted to help, she wanted to say - definitely - but could not. It was not her decision to make after all. A small consolation to the fact that she did feel a bit like a jerk. 

"But we have large game here and we can join forces in hunting it down. And I recall that you, Fireflies and Moonspearans had an inbetween territories for meets and greets, and teaching. We can have this too," she suggested. "We can return to your offer, when all of the children are old enough to stand independently on their own feet and the circle of life begins anew."