Turtleback Lake lions and tigers come running just to steal your luck

Not well, she guessed as his features clouded. Her ears lowered as his words confirmed it, and the jest he made went over her mottled head. She was angry, too? Atara supposed Magg could be feeling a lot of things, being hurt so bad it kept her from walking at all. Atty couldn't imagine sitting still for so long...

"We should get home, then. You can cheer her up, right?"

She gave him a smile and managed a few wags of her tail. There was nothing more she could do here, unless she planned on camping out for the night. As much as she wanted to watch for her father 24/7, she couldn't do that to her mom. She needed to get back to @Finley, and Galen needed to get back to his friend. So she might as well try to stay sunny and positive, right?

Atara shook out her fur, took one last look at the lowlands in the distance, then motioned for the teen to follow her, beginning the long trek back.

We should get home, then. You can cheer her up, right?

He surely hoped so. The ocean of emotions that had been churning in the young boys chest lately hadn't been given any form of recognition lately, but there was one thing he was certain of and it was that despite the pain she was currently having to take on alone Galen hoped that he could make her happy. One day when all of this was said and done and they were safely home again.

Golden eyes once more fell to the younger girl and mirrored the sunny rays of positivity she offered in her smile, his own tail wagging at his rump. "I surely try to at least. Come on, let's go before your mother starts to worry." With a small grunt the swarthy boy hoisted himself onto all fours and followed behind the young girl, hoping he made some sort of difference with their conversation. Even if it only temporarily bolstered her spirits.

"I'll race ya." He tagged on, his smile widening into a grin as he picked up the pace of his paws to remain just far enough ahead of her to maintain the lead most of the way back.

-fade-