Sun Mote Copse the halluci nation

Fennec’s next words surprised a hiccup out of Meerkat. She stared at her sister, eyes still wet with tears, turning over her words in her mind. Her face scrunched slowly.

I could never be angry with him. It’s not his fault the bear tore apart our family, she insisted, wiping at her eyes again. He was only a child, Meerkat said almost angrily, so if it’s anyone’s fault, it’s his parents’ and pack’s. We failed to protect him. But that’s not fair, either, so there’s really nobody to blame, and…

And that made it all the worse. Meerkat sniffed and glanced away into the copse, taking a few deep breaths to settle her emotions. A little voice in her mind couldn’t help but correct her, the thought making her grimace.

If we can blame anything, it would be the bear. Mom told me he went after it and killed it somehow. I don’t even want to think about the hows or the whys of that, Meerkat said, voice going flat.

Abruptly, she realized she was done with the entire subject, at least for now. She was feeling strangely riled and she really didn’t want to take it out on Fennec and her hot takes. Cold takes, Meerkat thought, grateful for her sister’s objectivity but also slightly triggered by it, at least at the moment.

Can we talk about something else? Meerkat asked, then didn’t wait for an answer before adding, Like how are things with you lately?