Sun Mote Copse the halluci nation

Was she spiraling? She had been overjoyed at first, just knowing he was alive out there somewhere. Now, she didn’t know how she felt. She looked down at the patch of grass between her forepaws, where shadows of leaves danced, her face scrunching.

I don’t not want to talk about it, she said after a moment, glancing over at her sister with a pained expression, but I’m having a hard time processing my feelings internally, much less expressing them externally.

Her lips twisted as she gazed off into the copse. Part of Meerkat didn’t want to dwell right now. She would rather focus on her upcoming nuptials. She didn’t want to snub Fennec’s offer to listen, though, and maybe hashing things out aloud—or trying to, anyway—could help.

It’s kind of like he died all over again, she said on a sighing exhale. The Swordfish we knew and loved, that isn’t the wolf who’s running around out there, based on what mom told us. Our sweet little Fish still died that day, in a sense. And of course I’m glad he… exists… in some capacity…

Meerkat couldn’t even get out the “but.” Her breath shivered from her as she suddenly choked up.