Thunder Dome plan a pretty picnic

"Then you did the right thing, going out in the world," Apple approved of the girl's choice, because she had done exactly the same thing the moment her personality had grown so big that it simply did not have enough space in the Blackthorn nest. She had spread her wings, intended to fly high (which had happened for a while), but not without bumps, falls, crashes and other mishaps happening along the way. In the end she had not been much of a person, who flew around, preferring to be the kind of bird that enjoyed the sky, while standing firmly on the ground. But it had not been a bad life still.

"I left, when I was barely a yearling. A young man wooed me and as young and stupid I was, I was ready to go to the end of the world with him," she said with a rueful smile. "It turned out that I did not fancy much the speed and the determination with which he was nearing that Earth's edge, and left him to find someone better. But you heard that story already." However, as she spoke about her first love and husband Alastair there was not a hint of disappointment or hurt feelings in her voice. Their love had been real and had worked out as long as it lasted and then faded away. Just as all things in life. 

"I encouraged all of my kids to go out in the world - some more than the others," she grinned, thinking about her beautiful airhead Priscilla and Deanne, who had tried very hard to be a homebody, because she had thought that this was, what was expected from all dutiful wolves, and how it had not worked out entirely, because the world had been calling to her all along. "Just once to give it a taste and find out, what is it like. Those, who did not enjoy it, returned. Others I never saw again. Bless their hearts," she replied. "My point being - sorry for taking all the spotlight with my rambling - that, if you wish to have a family one day, then the chances will be much higher outside the nest of the birth-pack."