Lysander sighed to himself as he dragged the box containing his daughter's rock collection behind him, his turtle companion following. Was it really necessary for her to move out? And if so, did she have to move so far away? And if that was the case, then why couldn't she have left the rock collection at home? He didn't mean to grumble. It was just that he was having a hard time wrapping his mind around the idea that his little clam was moving on. She'd come home a while ago with a strange look in her eye- honestly, he should have known right away. When she finally made the announcement that she'd found a place of her own, he'd congratulated her but at the same time felt completely miserable. How did other parents handle this?

Opheliac, however, was pretty oblivious to her father's mood. As she pushed the log that had always served as her favorite chair, she thought about where in her new home she'd put it. After all, there was plenty of room. She'd found the densite weeks ago, and it was absolutely perfect. A small clearing opened out onto the river, with a nice patch of grass that could serve as a yard, then a sloping packed earth embankment, and then the water. There was a small burrow already dug- a bachelor's holt, partially collapsed from years of disuse and neglect. It was nothing that she couldn't fix up, and fix it she had. It was all renovated, with a couple of side rooms and a small storage chamber for keeping winter food. Now there was nothing left to do but move in. The fact was, she was getting on in age and in size, and it was time for her to leave home. It probably had been for a while. Finding an actual home was just the catalyst, the turning point, the thing that would make her leave.

She'd taken him out to see the site once before, and Lysander did have to admit that it was very nice. The stretch of the river it was on was slow-flowing and the hunting grounds were good. The den itself was very nice; he could tell how hard she'd worked on it. He would have helped, if she'd asked, but he knew how independent his daughter could be. If she hadn't wanted to build her own home, she'd have asked him, like she’d asked for his help with the move. They were nearing the den now. She’d already pushed back the flat plank she’d found and was using as a door, and he pushed her box of rocks inside.

Ophie had already set her boxes down. With the addition of her rock collection, all her material possessions were now in the new den. She’d arrange them, but only after her dad left. That would take all day, and she didn’t like people watching her for that sort of thing. “I think that’s everything. Thanks, Dad.” She wiped her forehead against the back of her paw. Her father’s turtle, Squirtle, finally came into the house. Walking forward, he butted against her feet. “Go on, Squirtle. Go back to Daddy! Go on!” Lysander was making movements like he wanted to leave, and his pet needed to go with him.But the turtle wouldn’t move. He rubbed his head against her paw and looked up at her pitiously. It was clear that he wanted to stay. “Now come on, Squirtle, go back home now.”

“Nah, it’s ok,” Lysander said. He patted the little turtle on the head. He’d come into Squirtle and Ophie one right after the other. They’d grown up together, and it was natural, really, that they’d want to stay together. “G’bye, Squirtle. Take care of my girl for me,” he said with a smile. Well, at least she wouldn’t be alone out here.

“Wait, seriously?” Ophie said incredulously. She hadn’t expected her dad to give up Squirtle. He was very fond of the little turtle, after all- he’d raised him from a very young age. “Will you be ok? I mean- alone? Without Squirtle and me?” She reached out to hug him suddenly. In an instant, she wasn’t so sure she would be ok on her own. She’d been so excited about this, but she’d not thought about how it would affect her family.

Lysander hugged his daughter back, holding her tightly. “Yes, I’ll be fine! Don’t worry about your old man. I’m only a short walk away. It’s good for a girl your age to be out on her own anyways, Ophie. I’ll find ways to keep busy; you’ll see! He turned to leave, waving goodbye and thinking about how he’d need to drop in and visit soon.

Just then, a thought came to Opheliac’s mind. “Oi, Dad!” she called.

Lysander turned around and took a few steps towards the girl. “What, kiddo? Y’need something? Or did we leave something behind?” Or do you want to come home? I’m ok with that, if you want to come home.

“What’re you doing tomorrow?” 

“Ah, nothing in particular, I think. I haven’t got any plans.”

“Dinner, then? At my place?”

Lysander smiled widely. “Sure. Sounds lovely. I’ll come over about an hour before sunset, then?” He should have known she wasn’t abandoning him. Independence didn’t mean total negligence after all. They were family and nothing could change that. Ever.