Redhawk Caldera Turning purple at the dance evening

If there had been any reservations about greeting Maia in the way she always had as a kid, then now they were gone completely. Being embraced in just the same heartfelt way and sensing all the love that her mom had to give, felt right. And if something felt right to her, it would not damage her pride in any way. One of the biggest downsides of her travels had been the sense of loneliness, which she had experienced more often than meaningful and interesting encounters. Besides - no matter, how great the people had been (she thought of Val and Ash Paw especially fondly), they weren't family. Not in the way mom was here with her now. 

"Oh, I was on my way to look for something for Dee. She was not happy to have me go," she explained, unaware that her father had filled that role and her sibling was in the best paws possible. "But we can talk, while we go," she offered. "And I am all for lunch - a little will do, but a big one will be better," she beamed at Maia, knowing without saying that any plans of travels would have to be postponed until mom and dad would deem her fat enough to do so. That would be one rule she would not object to for the time being. "What happened, while I was gone? What should I know," she asked, when they were walking side by side at a leisurely pace.