Sun Mote Copse Can the child within my heart rise above

Fennec was too wrapped up in herself to notice Bronco's reaction.  Moodiness over Penn (and, she was convinced, everyone else) going off and having a grand old time had her flustered and her dad's doubts only made it that much worse.  If she couldn't be useful there... and she couldn't be useful here... then what even was the point?

Yeah, she answered, though it was more thoughtful than anything else.  He couldn't, not really, but she knew that without cooperation there was no way she'd be able to do anything to help.  So if she just showed up and no one expected it... well.  She didn't really want that.

Before she had the chance to say more, though, Bronco was leaving.  She opened her mouth to protest, but then closed it.  That was weird.  He'd been so into talking, and then as soon as she'd gotten warmed up to the idea, he was just going to leave?  Now she was annoyed again.  She didn't understand any of it.  Yeah, alright, she said, too quietly to hear.  This day really did suck.  She sat there a little longer, poking at the meat and feeling a good deal lonelier than when she'd started out.  Maybe she should go find Meerkat.  Her little sister seemed to be the only one who really wanted her around anymore.