Wheeling Gull Isle sparrows

"@Nakano," heda said, when she had finally stopped crying long enough to gather a few skins. "i — i need you to tell @Hviske and @John that the children and i are leaving, for a little while. caracal is staying," and that made her sick as a wheeling lark to say, seeing as though it had been a very long time since she had spent any time away from him.
she loved him! she loved him, but oh the memory of his slurred words and his — his swearing! at her! was that what this did?
she kept looking for him. caracal was devoted and contrite; he would come back. and yet he did not. he did not come up the greenhills nor call for her, and so she looked toward the sweetharbor wolf, wondering if he would heed her messages.
she needed to leave.