Sun Mote Copse Little desert fox

He couldn't fix this for her.  She knew it, she'd known it all along, but she'd needed to tell someone anyway, and dad had always been easier to talk to about this sort of thing.  She'd never had to even consider this fear before she'd ended up alone - as a kid it hadn't crossed her mind the possibility existed.  Now the fear was there, would always be there, and no one would ever be able to solve it.  She'd need to learn to live with it.

Fennec stiffened for a couple of seconds.  It does make me less strong, she thought.  It meant her life depended on others, that she'd never have the freedom other wolves had.  She'd never be able to leave the pack, find her own way.  The restlessness she felt would always go unanswered.  She didn't want to leave the Firebirds, but her world was so small.  Maybe she just wanted the option to choose some things herself.

I missed you, she finally choked out, and like that her wall shattered.  It wasn't his fault and it wasn't his problem to solve.  He was there now for what she needed him for; to be her dad.  She surged forward towards the sound of his voice and pushed herself into an embrace, just as she'd done when she was a whole lot smaller.  I'm sorry.  Sorry for leaving, for being like this when they came back... for everything.