A forced goodbye

She didn't expect to hear what she did just now. It was the first thing out of her daughter's mouth, so she was taken by surprise and at a loss of what to say. The surprise was evident in the way her eyes widened a bit, her tail stopped wagging as she stood there. She...her daughter was leaving? But why? did she not want to be here anymore? She had questions running around in her head now, and she wasn't quite sure where to start or if she even should. Was it that maybe she hadn't spent time with her like she wanted to after she retired from being an alpha? That plan had obviously backfired...and now Charm was leaving. She was too late now...

She looked down at the ground, sitting down when Charm touched her. She leaned down and almost seemed to curl around her daughter, saddened by the thought that this was goodbye. For a long moment, she said nothing as she merely held onto her. It felt like only yesterday, they were all helpless pups who depended on her and needed her. And now? They were yearlings. Ready to take on their own adventures and walk their own paths and go their own way. But her? She wasn't ready to let them go yet...she messed up with Lykos already. Held on too tightly--or maybe not tightly enough--and he had distanced himself. A rift had been created between them, and she had to admit that she hated it. And yet, she was afraid to go back and find him to tell him she was sorry. And Charm? While a rift wasn't there...she feared that maybe she had pushed her away enough that she felt she had to leave. "I...I could never be disappointed in you, sweetheart. I love you so much Charm, remember that." She gently licked her daughters head, not quite ready to say goodbye as she continued to hold her close.