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She could only shake her head and say, "I can't even wrap my head around this, much less come up with any ideas." Meerkat paused. "If you guys already talked and made that call, then there's no point in consulting with anyone else, is there? I can't say how anyone else will react to an executive decision but it kind of sounds like none of us really has a choice," she concluded, frowning sympathetically at Lane, whom she certainly did not envy right now.

As she stood there, contemplating the situation, Meerkat couldn't help but wonder: even if things had worked out with Issorartuyok, did this mean that puppies were off the table regardless? If the pack needed to relocate on the cusp of winter, would they be able to reestablish themselves well enough to support litters in the spring? The thought made her insides sink and she wondered why the universe seemed to be punishing her. It was an irrational thought to go with her irrational feelings of late.

"Maybe I'll do some solo scouting," Meerkat thought aloud. "I could use the distraction." Staying busy and focusing on the pack's problems versus her own sounded like a healthy coping method, and it would also make it easier to keep her distance from Issorartuyok... "Do you know which way, uh, he and the kids are headed, by any chance?"