Redhawk Caldera I'll interrogate the cat.

She let out a breath of relief when he agreed to drop the subject and resume a patrol. Towhee rose to her feet and peered off to the west, eyeballing the wide open spaces at the caldera's foot. She was halfway hoping for something or someone to turn up to further distract them but all was quiet and motionless along the western front. Biting back a small sigh, the Xi glanced at her uncle and began to plod forward. She stayed a little bit ahead of him, which made conversation rather impossible.

The sun beat down relentlessly and she soon realized she had never gotten that drink. Ever faithful to the important task at hand, Towhee led Elwood around the remainder of the borderline before breaking rank and heading deeper into the territory. -Need a drink,- she explained, simply making the sign for "thirsty." By now, their earlier conversation had dropped to the back of her mind, so her body language was inviting. -Coming?- she added with a small twitch of her lips before beginning the uphill lope.