/Exit
![[Image: 5BdYuOb.png]](https://i.imgur.com/5BdYuOb.png)
It seemed the meeting was winding down and Ally had missed most of it. She was just getting ready to turn and sneak off just as she had snuck in when the girl on the other side of Galen spoke up, loud and defiant. Ally nearly cringed away from her tone, but the end of her sentence caught her attention. Her ears pricked up. Cove. She blinked at this stranger whose name she didn't know. How did she know about the Cove?
Ally turned, eager to hear the answer. She barely registered the other yearling's answer, so intent was she upon Finley, who responded with chilled words. Ally's ears dropped again, disappointed and afraid to draw that ire upon herself, until the leader continued. Ally swallowed and timidly spoke up. "Could... could I go with you?" she asked, but thinking of the harsh winter on the mountainside quelled her heart a little. "Or, could you tell my grandma I'm here? Maybe she can find my dad." Or maybe her dad was there, waiting for her to find her way back to him.
![]() She felt so tired. It was a struggle to just pay attention to Finley, let alone anything else going on around her. All her energy was focused on giving the new leader what support she could, her heart aching with a mixture of gratitude and sympathy for the other woman – she hoped she’d soon be fit enough to relieve her - though at the moment, the thought alone made her feel faint. The immediate response to Finley’s words was silence, disturbed only by Chan stepping away. Of course, Flair had noticed their son’s absence, and with the grave news about Jethro, it filled her with just as much worry as her partner. But she didn’t have the strength to go looking, so she stayed where she could be of most use, bending her head to nuzzle Addison’s ears gently as the girl snuggled closer – her caress bringing a soft smile to Flair’s lips, despite everything. Then her attention was back on Fin, looking to meet her eyes and show her support. Then an unexpected voice spoke up, in a tone entirely unexpected, and enough to make Flair’s haggles prickle, despite her woes. Chan had told her of Magg’s injury, but she hadn’t had much presence to learn the details. Still, her scorn at the news about Jethro was abhorrent, as was the tone she was taking with their new leader. The former leader shot a pointed glare at the youngster, following up Finley’s response with a low growl, supporting the woman wholly. Her position made perfect sense and she was handling the rudeness with a grace Flair could not have mastered in her place. Obviously, this wasn’t enough for the yearlings. While Galen tried to work things out more civilly, ignoring Finley’s request to make the discussion private, Magg was clearly of only one mind, that her problem was more important than anything else. Had it still been Flair up there, at her full strength, she might have moved to correct the girl physically – injured or not – but as it was, she could only defer to Finley, on whether to let it slide and allow her to storm off. Regardless, even as the meeting seemed to dissolve around them, the former leader would remain, giving Finley her silent support ‘til the end, even if she couldn’t offer much else. ”Speech" Thoughts |
Miriam was not fully aware of the spat she appeared to have stuck herself directly in the middle of. A frown found her features as she looked back and forth between Finley and Magg… she had merely volunteered in order to ensure whatever needed to be done ended up done… Magg was injured, from what she knew, and that meant she would need help moving around, right?
A number of people spoke up, some saying she should not go because (a fair point on their part) she did not know where it was, and even Finley spoke up about going herself unless someone volunteered to go with her… she was certain the dripping mess was not helping, but her mishap in the stream had been… well, a mishap… and once she had time to lay down and dry off she was certain she would be fine.
But then Magg was storming off, leaving her utterly confused with a frown on her features. “However I can help… e-even if that i-is staying here while s-so-someone else goes.” She managed through the chattering, addressing Finley as it was her call.
Sweet little Ally chimed in next and volunteered to also go up the mountain with Miriam, and then mentioned her grandparents were up there. The agouti woman let out an audible sigh, she certainly wasn’t going to send a teen and a child alone on an errand to a mountain top. This seemed to distract Galen who said that they would go with Miriam. If they were well enough to make the trip then what did they need a scout from the Falls for. Every time one of the pair spoke it grated against her frazzled nerves.
The hardness had returned to her face and tone when she answered, ”Nobody is keeping you here. If the pair of you would like to leave you are welcome to go.” It was implied here that “welcome to go” was generous, more of a suggestion that they had worn out their welcome. She watched as the younger one limped away and then looked expectantly to Galen to see if he would follow behind.
Then she deflated a little, once she was surrounded by the wolves she knew that she could trust. Shooting a thankful smile to Marigold she nodded silently before turning her attention to Miriam, ”Come on, we should get you dried off and warmed up before you catch a cold.” That was the last thing that they needed.