Redhawk Caldera I hear a joke and I know you would have told it better

Maia had stepped down and stepped back in pack life a while. Everything had been a little overwhelming and, despite knowing Eljay believed in her completely, she could not shake the sense that she wasn’t the best choice to lead them into the future.

Kivaluk did not seem to agree, and Maia wondered if it was genuine or simply a result of being Chickadee’s mother. Then she realized how uncharitable that thought was and kicked herself more for having it. Even after all these years, and motherhood many times over, she still couldn’t shake the sensation that she was flailing in the dark.

Maia smiled briefly, then stretched and moved off towards the lake. Perhaps fishing would take her mind off of things? The pack lands were quiet; her grandchildren thrived, but the pack seemed to grow smaller and smaller. Fishing always made her feel Teya might show up unexpectedly, joining with a smile just the way she used to. She hoped the other woman had found happiness but still couldn’t see how it would be possible in separating herself from the ones that loved her.

Maia slipped into the water, subdued some by those thoughts, and waited. She wasn’t the greatest at fishing but it did take most of her attention when she tried. If she managed to keep still long enough, maybe she could catch lunch for herself and Eljay here.

@Eagle, @Crane, and @Cardinal had been relocated to their rendezvous. the blackthorn den was suddenly much more spacious and quiet, but it left the young woman wondering if she and kivaluk should also find their own space.
mama had stepped back into the role of auspex, which comforted chickadee. she had been hunting wood pigeons all morning, managing three with a fourth loss.
they were hard to carry at once, and so chickadee cached them through brecheliant, happily running into her mother.
a sunny smile captured her features when she realized that maia was fishing. it wasn't chickadee's forte either, but she crouched up the bank to the watch, maybe smack a fish back into the water.

She was watching a fish when Chickadee approached, so only broke focus enough to glance up and smile initially. When she dove in for it, however, the slippery thing managed to flash between her jaws and evade capture. She came up empty and laughing, sheepishly shaking water from her fur.

This is harder than it looks, she said humorously, shifting her weight since the fish had likely been scared off anyway. It would be a bit before she’d get another chance, but she wasn’t ready to give up just yet.

"oh, i'm sure," chickadee chuckled, sliding into the water alongside her mom. green eyes peered intently at the darting shadows which frisked below the lake's surface.
she tried to remain still as the eddies smoothed, scarcely daring to breathe; 
an eager glance was stolen to maia. if the auspex wanted to try again, chickadee meant to be her stalwart backup for the attempt.

If it was hard before, it was certainly harder with an audience! Even if that audience was her daughter. Maia tried to focus but the day was beautiful and she had company. Staring at the water seemed so much less exciting. She only managed it by knowing they had mouths to feed.

Another fish! This time the pieces all seemed to click into place. It was slower, large enough to make a target for catching, and she managed to spot it as it was coming into reach. With a lunge she felt her teeth close around it, snapping down before it had a chance to get its fins up.

Goh ih!! She crowed unintelligibly, then laughed (carefully) as she splashed towards the shore. This would surely feed someone! Maybe a couple small someones, if they wanted to try fish.

"good job, mom!" exulted her adoring daughter from the edge of the water. chickadee, who saw the fish darting away from her now, snapped for them all the same.
only water streamed between her teeth; spluttering and alight with laughter, she joined maia on the bank, looking over her mother's shoulder toward the catch. "you're better at this than you thought," she praised, grinning; chickadee stepped away to shake out her fur, trying not to catch the auspex in this deluge.