Sun Mote Copse the halluci nation

Fennec had been in a mood since the meeting, and as usual, this mean generally avoiding crossing paths with most of the pack while she sorted out her shit.  A few interactions were unavoidable, and she’d had to sit and listen (with as much patience as she could muster) while her brother in law explained his son’s situation.

She wanted to feel for him.  For both of them.  But the chorus of ‘why is this relevant to me’ couldn’t be silenced from her mind, made even worse when he came to then a short time later to reveal he was planning on renewing his vows.

Good for them.

Fuck, you’re an awful sister.  The thought carried more amusement, and comfort in the realization, than it probably should have.  Meerkat and Njord were just incredibly open, and family oriented, in a way she didn’t quite understand.  She loved their family, the size and the closeness of it, but she had never considered going to Meerkat about her feelings around Killdeer’s decision to live apart.  Or her decision not to stay despite Bronco being gone.  That wasn’t a conversation she felt her sister could provide any help with, probably because she had no clue what (if anything) she could do about Swordfish.

Towhee had always been her main confidant, but that had changed too in recent months.  She supposed the whole thing with Fig had shown her family didn’t always need to be the ones you went to.  And subsequent attempts, in her mind, had only confirmed it. 

Above everything, she just missed Penn.

Fennec was resting in the shade of the trees, thinking about that, when she heard her sister pass by.  Her ears flicked that way, and at first she didn’t say anything.  Maybe the self-reflection just made her more open to it in the moment, or maybe thinking about Penn left her sentimental.  Either way, she broke the silence without too much hesitation.

Things as bad as I think they are?  Or are you more optimistic than me?  Could be she was alone in wanting to entertain the worst possible outcomes, but she wanted to open the space for Meerkat in case no one else had.  Their family was great, but… certain things just weren’t easy to say.  No matter who they were said to.