Firefly Glen Here where once was found.

It warmed her heart to see her daughter take the lead, alongside her cousin. Chacal remained with Val at the rear, her spirits buoyed to see their children in a loose parade in front of them. The youngest ones were encouraged and reassured when necessary. They were old enough now that they would have to make the walk on their own- but Chacal would vouch for breaks when she noticed one or two beginning to flag.

She felt an absence lingered where her eldest children could have been- but she hoped, too, that she might see their faces among the many at the gathering. Not knowing who she might see was more worrying than exciting for her. She pined for her sister's presence, until she remembered who she'd been in the earliest days of her youth- Val's little shadow.

With her brother at her side, and her children in the vanguard, she could face this.

She realized soon that facing other adults wouldn't be their primary distraction, not when the young ones seemed so keen to mingle. She did not want to be the mother responsible for a Code Adam; she chuffed for the children to remain near for a small time, so they might at least become familiar with their camp's location so they could find their way back after socializing.