Big Salmon Lake I got used to living without you

She didn't know if she believed him. He wouldn't come back with her which meant, if he was lying, he could disappear without any trouble once she left him here. She'd have to trust that he meant it and that trust didn't come easily. She struggled with it.

If it weren't for her son, she might have said fuck it and gone for them anyway. It was so tempting to take this anger, the hurt and rage, and turn it on the ones who had caused all of this. Her own months without him, the fear he held, his current state. She'd carve it into their pelts before she ripped out their throats and be sure they knew the mistake they'd made. Fennec didn't remember ever truly wishing another creature dead, not with this intensity. But she couldn't risk the fact that she might not come home.... not when Bronco might choose the same.

Okay. She finally released the breath she was holding, and relaxed some. If she turned back now she wouldn't be able to follow him. She'd force herself to trust him and, if he refused to trust her back... she would be done. She wasn't a good enough wolf to wait for him, not longer than she already had.

She was guarded as she turned, but her gut clenched and her jaw tightened as she began to walk away. She didn't know why, but she suddenly knew that she wasn't going to make it back to the Caldera without needed to stop. Somewhere in Bramblepoint she'd lose her composure and whatever control she had, breaking down before she faced Killdeer again. She wouldn't let him, or anyone, see it.

If she were his only reason, she wasn't sure she'd ever see him again. She just had to hope Killdeer was reason enough.