Heron Lake Plateau The clock may run out on us.

Nobody countered her suggestion, so Towhee steeled herself. When Elwood, then Tegan, offered to help carry Orca's body, she was of course tempted to decline. She wanted to be her sister's single pallbearer and see this thing through to the end. But to tell the truth, she was extremely weary from the long trip. And while Orca was her sister, she wasn't the only one deeply affected by her loss. This should be a familial effort.

"Could you please do the honors. I'll lead the way and help dig," Towhee said to the lookalike volunteers, stepping out of their way and waiting for them to heft her sister's body. As soon as they were ready, she then led the slow funeral march to the little island, where they would dig a small grave at its heart and lay the ill-fated yearling to rest.

Y'all are more than welcome to wrap this up, too sad to drag it on too long! :'(