Sun Mote Copse Should have bought myself a home when I was a fetus.

Towhee stood at the top of Nord’s Cragh, chewing her lip as her eyes panned over the fall foliage. She’d only just returned (escorted again by @Towhee Jr) and now @Seal was gone, @Otter not far behind her. Unable to wait for their parents and brother to return, they had left to find them. Towhee couldn’t fault them for this. She only hoped they would find Meerkat, Njord and Skipjack out there. The world was a big place.

We could go after them too, she thought aloud, eyes dropping to Bushtit playing with the tail she’d torn off a squirrel earlier today. I don’t think you’re quite ready for that big of an adventure just yet, though.

Being left behind had been hard, much harder than she’d anticipated. Towhee hated to do the same thing to the few remaining in the copse. But if @Reyson and @Meadow wanted to claim this little corner for their family, then that was more than fair. None of the Sveijarn-Cortens could lay claim to it, not now that all of them had left, and Towhee sensed deep down that they wouldn’t be back anyhow.

Which means we’re free to go, she posited. We’ll travel to one of the Moon villages for a visit, then figure things out from there, I think.

Seconds later, Towhee bent down to snatch the tail from her son, then galloped downhill toward The Taigh. Bushtit came tumbling after her, rolling ass over tea kettle and prompting a bellowing laugh from his mother. She went to check on him, though he was unfazed. Towhee nuzzled the top of his head, then lifted her eyes skyward, absently looking for any sign of Ghost.