Sun Mote Copse the halluci nation

Tears sprang to her eyes at Fennec’s words. She nodded shakily, still unable to speak, and swiped a foreleg across her eyes. But still they streamed, particularly as her sister continued talking. She mentioned Bronco, though it wasn’t until her last few words that Meerkat began crying in earnest.

“If they don’t want to…” She could still see the pain in Towhee’s eyes when she had explained Swordfish’s reluctance to come to the copse. She had been right not to force his hand, though Meerkat knew it had been difficult. She wasn’t entirely sure she could’ve left without begging and pleading, had she been the one to find him. And if he’d still refused, it would’ve broken her far worse…

That’s why I’m not going to look for him, Meerkat said between hitching, tearful breaths, and that feels terrible too, like I’m giving up on him.

But based on what their mother had told her, she had armed Swordfish with all the information he could possibly want about his parents and their location. Hopefully he would surprise them all and come someday. But the ball was in his court, as they say, and Meerkat felt a bit like she was in purgatory.