Redhawk Caldera sage

yeah, maybe! chickadee almost snapped, though she managed to keep her jaw wired down. she was a woman, right, she was going to be married, and have kids, and —
she tried to smile back but stopped when it came out like a grimace. chickadee glanced off and took a breath, then cleared her throat. it wasn't her fault mom and dad weren't having more kids, and it almost felt like dwin expected her to give birth here just to keep brecheliant going, something her sister clearly hadn't even thought about herself! 
chickadee tried to be charitable, understanding. they'd been through the same losses and upheavals. the major difference was that dwin had come home and she had not, she'd established herself somewhere else.
but now guilt wrapped itself around her withers. dad wasn't well, mom was getting older. the pack was quiet. they could use help. she just wished dwin would ask for it instead of making pithy comments.
"i'll talk to kivaluk," she said when she could speak again, her voice low but genuine. "in the meantime, i'm going to hunt while i'm here." the olive branch shook in her proverbial hand.