Blacktail Deer Plateau cicadas

cameo for the threadlog~

she ignored his summons at first, opting to pretend he did not exist— it was much the same treatment she gave her brother after he spewed his vitriol at their mother. easier to cope by just excising them both from her heart. phox was not her father, would never be, full stop. and if peregrine chose him over those that raised him, well, vesper had no forgiveness for the disloyal.

her family was mou and maegi and blueberry. perhaps prevost, if she were ever to return, but as the darkling's brain continued to develop and she grew closer and closer to adulthood, the memories of her other sister were fading, the feelings and attachment she felt, fading.

but curiosity got the best of the bat-eared pup, and she slunk towards the source. she settled within the shadows of a shrub, orange eyes peering out sullenly, only close enough to hear the conversation. if the adults had sensed her, they let her be— perhaps knowing by now that pushing her would only lead to more pain and bitterness.

they were going, then. she clenched her jaw, but knew a tantrum would be useless. it had not prevented them from leaving the island, and would not change things now. vesper wouldn't do it for phox, would take her leave now if there was a demand that she leave father and mother— but they would come, too, and that was what mattered most to the youth. she would do anything for them.

her parents departed, but she remained for a time, watching phox with bitter eyes. and then she crept quietly from the shrub, following the lingering smell of mou and maegi back to their makeshift den.