Sun Mote Copse The scene is dead.

Despite his prowess, the fox gave him the slip and Fig trotted back toward her, snapping Towhee out of her thoughts. There was a pensive look on his face for a moment before he asked a rhetorical question. Her own face smoothed a little, a small smile returning as she shook her head.

-"Yeah, it would probably have the opposite of your desired effect,"- she quipped gently, -"but I bet if we sit tight, she'll realize she misses us and come back sooner. There's even a saying: 'absence makes the heart grow fonder,' I think?"- She shrugged and shook her head again, swiveling leisurely to resume their plod.

"Anyway, in my experience, it's impossible to track down someone in this wilderness. You could wander for weeks without finding any sign of her. I'd rather have you here. I'm sure your dad and baby siblings agree. They need at least one really good role model now that Fen's off chasing her dreams. There's Bronco and Nellie but, eh, I know I can count on you," Towhee said with a faint smirk.