Hideaway Strath run away

Seeing Lotus proper for the first time had changed something in Charles. He still felt rather pushed out by @Nyra, but he also felt some sort of need to be in the life of their child together. This hadn't actually prompted him to visit following Lotus' presentation to the pack; he had brought @Lotus a gnarled, sturdy stick for chewing once, but he hadn't stuck around to see if she'd find and use it. He'd brought Nyra food, like he had before, though only from caches since he was such a poor hunter. He hoped that it wouldn't show too much. He hoped that the one fresh catch he had brought was enough to soothe any second thoughts she might have about his lack of hunting skills. The last he needed was for the mother of his child and leader to realise what a deadbeat mooch he was.

He'd noticed the eyes of @Ramesses on him at the meeting, and could not help but wonder if it was because he was the one who'd gotten to lay with Nyra. Charles didn't feel particularly lucky (though if he were presented with Lotus right now, he might change his mind on the spot). He felt like he wanted to run away; no, needed to run away. He wanted so badly to stay here rather than follow Nyra and Lotus to the Archangels. Or better, perhaps, simply vanish without a trace, like he had before; from Easthollow, from Firefly Glen, from Redhawk Caldera. It would be so easy. Easier than staying here, for sure. He'd miss Whrist, but who else would really miss him? The gaze of this man had made him uneasy, because he felt like he was being envied for something that wasn't enviable in the least.

Today Charles was trying to track prey in a feeble attempt at hunting, but honestly, he was more than anything just trying to look productive so that nobody would call him out on his shitty lack of any real contribution to the pack.