he went galumphing back

Sugar Glider

Sugar shook her head gently at her brother's question. "No, Raven is with the Frosthawks. Their pack is a little southwest of here. Triquetra—where Tegan and Bat live—is to the southeast," she explained. "The Frosthawks aren't far at all. I plan to stop by, especially since Avery's there now." She wondered whether he ever thought of visiting, though she'd always known Eljay to be quite the homebody. Even a day's travel might be a bit much for him.

He didn't seem to acknowledge her joke, though Sugar didn't mind. She could tell he was worried about her solitary travels and wanted to reassure him. "Aye, alone. I feel so free when it's just me and the open road," she shared. Truthfully, she didn't have much experience under her belt yet, though she'd really enjoyed the small taste she'd had so far. "I'm careful, I promise. I know how to look after myself," she reassured, black eyes fondly exploring his face.

"Hey," the yearling said in the next breath, benignly changing the subject, "do you think it would be all right if I hung out nearby for a day or two? I have a lot on my agenda," she admitted, "but after today's news, especially... I want to spend some time near the copse," where their parents had lived out their last days. "In fact, I think I'll go find somewhere to bed down in the thicket," Sugar concluded even as she suppressed a yawn.