Redhawk Caldera Lakeside sunset

It was true that he hadn't always left here. He had left twice of his own volition, that he remembered in the moment; once when he was young and thought he was a bother, and the second time when he was cracking apart from staying here. Life was complicated like that. It was not like there was always just one thing you did or did not do, it turned out. Eljay smiled lightly at his daughter's cleverness as she posed the questions. She was so inquisitive.

It's true. I left the first time because I was young and I thought that I was not good enough for my pack and family, that I had to leave to grow. He had grown, though he would rather not have had that experience, overall.

And the last time was because I was in love with your mother. It was perhaps not the whole truth, but he didn't feel like elaborating on all the gritty details. Because she lived at the Fen at the time, and I wanted to be with her more than I wanted to stay here, I suppose. He smiled at Ceridwen and awaited further questions — because there usually were more.