Bramblepoint young, wild american lookin' to be somethin'

Before Towhee could decide what she wanted to do—should she confront Ivy or save herself the trouble and avoid her at all costs?—someone else appeared alongside her. Hydra glided past Ivy's silvery figure with a passing comment that the hidden Towhee didn't catch. But emboldened by her friend's appearance, she sidestepped out from behind the tree, hastening forward to greet her fellow mercenary. She leered at Ivy over Hydra's shoulder, then flicked her head to toss a quick reassurance to the hawk, whose talons were beginning to dig into her flesh.

"Sorry we're late," Towhee said to Hydra, meaning to keep her voice low but failing absolutely. "I got caught up taking care of this guy. We're attached at the hip now. Or the shoulder, I guess..." Her breath escaped her in a dry, vaporous laugh. "Anyway, maybe we could practice on her?" she added, pointing a toe at Ivy.