Redhawk Caldera We like sportz and we don't care who knows!

After @Caracal had told him his idea, Killdeer went sprinting directly toward the den in which his family spent most time, calling raucously for @Fennec and @Bronco. MOM! DAD! MOM, DAD!

He skidded to a stop, sending dead leaves flying all around him. It was quite festive, the colorful boy surrounded by colorful detritus fluttering down. He was grinning, tail wagging furiously.

It was a great idea. He was so excited to go on an adventure with his friend.

And to the sea! He wasn't quite sure what that was, but he was excited to find out. Cal wouldn't let him down, right?

Since moving from the den, Fennec had taken to giving the place a pretty wide berth. She'd promised space and she would deliver on it, and it was pretty easy to avoid running into Bronco. All she had to do was spend most of her time on the fringes of the territory... and that was nothing really new.

Between patrols, her gardens in the Bramblepoint, and random day trips, she kept herself busy. But every day she at least checked in with Killdeer, both to see if he wanted to come along and just to make sure everything was alright. So far he seemed none the wiser... which of course was going to lead to this inevitable (and awkward) situation.

Fennec internally braced herself when she heard Killdeer calling for both of them from the direction of the den. Don't. The warning was for a number of things. If she let her fucking mouth run away with her in front of Killdeer, who knew what would happen. Absolutely she'd be the one looking like a complete tool, but also, she just really didn't want him involved in this. At all. Not until they figured their shit out.

She couldn't tell if Bronco was already there, or approaching, when she arrived. So she decided to just ignore it for now. Hey, Kill. What's up? She asked, coming in immediately for a (pretty strong) affectionate nuzzle. He'd likely be used to that by now.

Sleep had been doing wonders for him. Not that he improved visibly in leaps and bounds, but he woke up feeling refreshed, finally. Not willing to go out to the borders, but at least he had the energy to patrol the lake's edge and hunt. Small tasks, but better than avoiding everyone in the pack and starving himself at the back of the den. 

He heard his son's voice coming nearer and nearer and he'd just finished plucking the feathers from a spruce grouse (he knew he could eat the grouse without plucking it but...He hated getting feathers stuck in his throat) when Killdeer bounded into view. 

He wondered if Fennec had spoken with him, asking him to give Bronco space. She came when summoned too- and not knowing exactly what the boy had been told, he chose to put their relationship struggles on the back burner. He thumped his tail against the ground and rumbled an amused, affectionate growl. Fennec nudged their son- a bit roughly, but nothing that wasn't practically canon for their family- and that would probably suffice for the physical greeting. 

"What's got you so giddy, Varmint?" He asked, echoing Fennec with a buoyant tone.

going to wrap this one too since it isn't relevant anymore <3. Tried to have it make sense with what was kinda expressed ooc, lmk if I need to update anything

Fennec listened as Killdeer shared his desire to go with to the beach, but her playful air fell away a bit as she realized what this timing was. She wanted him to be able to do something like that, and keeping him cooped up here wasn't going to be good for any of them in the long run. Fortunately she took him on any trips she could outside of the immediate borders, but the sea was something he should experience sometime.

The air was getting colder, though. And things were... tough right now. She needed him right now, just as much as she needed her mom. That was selfish, and if it were only her, she'd have immediately agreed to let him go. Fuck it.

But when Bronco spoke first and expressed reservations, she couldn't find any arguments. Maybe someday we'll go. That felt like a pipe dream right now too, so she didn't say it out loud. But reluctantly, and even a little guiltily, she agreed with Bronco. Now wasn't a good time.