Redsand Canyon Your kisses are poison and all your words are treason

She didn't want to follow, but Fennec sensed that she did not have much choice. It was tempting to step off and go to find her son immediately, but fortunately she was spared from even thinking of it by Killdeer's sudden appearance. He was so happy. Fennec managed to summon a smile, but his enthusiasm (and questions) felt like a punch to the stomach. Is my dad around?

Hey, Killer. It's good to see you too. I missed you. She returned the affection with a lingering squeeze, then stepped back and tried to draw him aside. She didn't really want to have this conversation in front of everyone, a fact that Figment had luckily caught onto. She could hear him helping to play distraction as well.

I actually came to let you know, we aren't settling in the Emberwood anymore. Your uncle and I are going to take... a little bit of a trip. She paused, unsure of how to continue. She'd planned the words, but they seemed so vague. Maybe the simple truth was the best. I don't know where your dad is. He left. Things just... didn't work out with us. I'm sure he'll come find you and let you know himself, where he's going. Fennec's ears went back. He'd better. It wasn't like she'd be able to share the news on where she'd found him, but if he broke Killer's heart the same way he'd broken hers, she would truly never forgive him.

She'd wanted so badly to build him a home, but he seemed to have found one here anyways, with Towhee and the rest of the family. She felt a familiar and complicated mix of emotion at the thought. Gratefulness. Jealousy. And a touch, just a touch, of that familiar loneliness. It wasn't his job to choose her over all of the other things he wanted, but right now, every perceived rejection hurt twice as much. Just because Killdeer had no clue what he was doing didn't mean she could choose not to feel it. She could only choose not to show it.