Redsand Canyon Maybe months go by, maybe years from now

Towhee's comparison definitely made her think. Fennec had never stopped to consider why her dad was such a mess after all of that went down. Niamh chose to leave him. Now she understood that it was actually worse that way. She never considered that he might blame himself for all of it, especially because he would never get the chance to have the conversation she just did.

Shit. She needed to go give him a hug after this.

He'd hate that. Bronco never liked his mom, though Fennec never took severe issue with her until she'd run. But maybe. She didn't think he got it from her. Niamh had kept Fennec's respect precisely because she didn't beat around the bush or play nice. They were both great at refusing to admit when they were wrong, though. She remembered that - and sometimes, she knew, she had that problem too. At least I own it.

I'm glad you were finally able to break the family curse. Towhee had given her a lot to think about, so she was more than happy to turn the subject to happier things. Like finally getting a little low-down on Maxim, who she hadn't even really bothered to acknowledge until now. (See? Asshole.)