Heron Lake Plateau spare dad

For once, Owen managed to button his lip and not blurt out the first damnfool thing that came to his mind (which was, as was so common for him, gyrating wildly with various farfetched anxieties) and managed a cool nod that almost managed to come off as regally calm. ...Almost. Having puppysat bitty Owen plenty, it was pretty doubtful that Eljay of all people wouldn't be able to see right through the boy's collected demeanor to the knotted, thorny ball of fretfulness within. But that thought at least Owen managed not to dwell on. He was just glad he wasn't freaking out as much outwardly as he still kind of was inwardly. Even if he'd at least managed to avoid being pinned down to a specific time for visiting or anything like. (Owen just wished that aspect was managing to reassure him inwardly a whole lot more right now.)

His pseudo-adult poise broke rather quickly anyhow, however, as he rolled his eyes at Eljay's soft that would be lovely in response to Vasa's cagey "offer" to swing by if maybe she could spare some time from her all-important adventuring or something. Owen still had a lot of trouble imagining anyone finding a visit from his snarky sister lovely, on any level. Those poor pups, if they ended up having to put up with her! Maybe it was lucky for them, at least, that she would be in a whole other pack.

Owen caught his lip on an eyetooth for a quick instant as he saw Eljay peering back over his shoulder. Anxious to be gone and leave his former charges behind already! Well, then again, with Vasa being one of them maybe you couldn't entirely blame the guy. Owen straightened up a little and managed another dignified nod. Yeah... yeah, I'll tell her you said 'hi.' ...Since Vasa's probably gonna be too busy off 'venturing someplace or who knows what, and Owen awarded his sister another, more balatant eyeroll to her face. Nyah nyah.