Otter Creek Falling to pieces

She'd thought that returning could make things better. She'd left in a rocky state, what with feelings of resentment for Hawkeye's leaving and Kisu's unreliability as a supposed father, uncertainty following Junior's announcement about their father and his new mate, and guilt over leaving Pura. Her burly brother had certainly found his way into the world as well, and everything else so far was true, as much as she wanted to hope it wasn't. She thought that going back to the plateau might bring Hawkeye back and prove Kisu and Junior wrong but she'd been lying to herself.

She sniffed hard and glanced up to spot Junior loping toward her on the shore. Though they were all fully grown and filling out, there was no mistaking the Redleaf-DiSarinno youth she'd grown up with. Despite everything, she didn't blame Junior for anything that had happened and even mustered a smile when her cousin called out to her.

"I did," she answered quickly, although ruining Fox's reputation by letting the truth hide longer was tempting, "but not permanently. I needed some space." She thought about elaborating, for if she could trust anyone it was Junior, but that topic was swiftly laid to rest in favour of the present issue.

"Dad came home a couple nights ago just to tell everyone he's going off with that bitch," she said glumly, though it did feel good to follow Junior's example when it came to Fox. Everything had been great until the red-furred female had come along, and suddenly it was like Peregrine had lost his mind and sense of family. "She ruined everything," she muttered, pinning back her ears before adding, "Pura's gone too. Kisu, too, even though he came along with his crap sob story about how we're his kids. Some dad he is."

"But enough about them," she quickly finished, wanting to forget all about how disloyal all her family members were turning out to be, herself included. "How's the... Priest girls you joined up with? Are they awesome?" There was a glimmer of hope there, barely detectable beneath the surface. With Pura out of the picture, she was free to do whatever, including leaving the plateau behind and joining Junior on the coast if she wanted. It would make her no better than her foster father, but... no one would care, she reminded herself.