Redsand Canyon A step towards death and the moon is pale

Fennec's history with that question made it hard not to hear it as an attack. What the fuck more did she have to do to prove that she wasn't 3 seconds away from abandoning anything and everything all the time? Killdeer couldn't know that his question echoed every doubt his father had held over her. Fortunately she didn't even have it in her to rise to that.

That's what joining means. Unless you'd rather I didn't. Probably best to get that out of the way quickly. For all she knew, Bronco and Killdeer had spoken and things had changed since last time she talked with him. That could explain some of this standoffish behavior now.

She softened, a little, and let out a breath. None of this was how she wanted it, but at the end of the day, she'd done it. This was her fault. I never wanted us to have separate homes. You know that, right? I'm not upset you came here, and I'm proud of you. But I didn't like being so far.

It was too complicated for her to explain in full. When Killdeer chose to go off with Caracal, she hadn't wanted to, but she knew she had to let him go or risk keeping him miserable and confined to home. Not even Fennec was that hypocritical. Then he'd found Mereo, chosen to settle there, but Fennec had known the only hope in saving her mateship had been the pack they were trying to build together. It gave them a purpose together, common ground to stand on if nothing else.

It was too bad that it hadn't been worth it, in the end.