Bramblepoint Pull together for the clan and kin.

Killdeer looked absolutely stricken as his daughter departed, watching the space where she'd disappeared even as Towhee spoke again. He couldn't get her tone or expression out of his head. He felt as if he'd monumentally failed her—and if it hurt this bad now, how could he manage to pull this whole thing off?

He turned, stone-faced, toward Towhee, who was now questioning him about his former lover. Sialuk. . . She needed to be out in the world for a while, Killer explained, with a shrug. Went north and found a village. Pie says she's happy. I hope so.

With a sigh, he took a step forward and sighed, head falling, eyes closed. Treepie's attached to the mountain, he went on. She finds it very hard to leave, and feels obligated to stay. And, of course, there's both her parents now just up and ditching her. . .

He sank back into a seated position, brows knitted in concern.