Wheeling Gull Isle rollin' with the homies

Man, you don’t have to apologize, Caracal said after Killdeer explained the situation. It’s cool that you want to look after your mom. If that’s what you need to do—if that’s what makes you happy—then you should absolutely do it.

He did wonder. Would Killer be happy sticking with his mom? Fennec seemed like she would never be happy with anyone, anywhere. Caracal didn’t want to say that, though he worried that Fen’s chronic unhappiness would bleed over onto her son. How could it not?

I know you will! And you’re welcome anytime, Caracal assured, returning the brotherly hug with all his might.

Surely Killdeer would need a break from his mom at some point. It probably wouldn’t be cool to say that, though. It was never kosher to badmouth another dude’s mother, even if she was your chronically cranky older sister.