Redhawk Caldera Macabre midnight.

There wasn’t a cloud in the sky as Towhee sidled along the western borderline, though there was a notable chill in the October air. Every so often, a twinkle would catch her eye and she’d swing her head to peer toward Lake Rodney. It wasn’t a good idea to venture far in her condition, though she couldn’t help but think of all the fish. She licked her lips, though she resisted temptation and continued her plodding patrol.

When she finished, she turned to begin climbing the nearby slope when she spotted a distant figure out of the corner of her eye. She paused and turned, squinting. Towhee’s orange eyes slowly widened and her heart jumped into her throat. She almost took a tumble as she pivoted a little too hastily, then scrambled downhill and began loping toward the one and only Bushtit.

They moved into the shade of an apple tree and sat for hours, regaling each other with the events of the past several months. Her son insisted he hadn’t been up to much of note, aside from wandering far and wide, and enjoying every minute of it. Towhee sensed he was keeping something from her but her playful wheedling didn’t coax it out of him. She gave it a rest, focusing on how content she felt when he seemed tentatively happy about the news of younger siblings.

I’d ask you to stay, she said as the day began to wane, long enough to meet your siblings. And for the winter. But it sounds like you’re enjoying the adventurous life. Good for you. I’m envious. Towhee gazed at him for a long time. Before you head out, care to take me to the lake and fish with me for a bit?

It was dark by the time she returned home, alone but not empty-handed. Towhee carried the huge catfish up the caldera’s flank, pausing at the rim to stare out into the wilderness. Bushtit had already disappeared into the night. Her heart panged. Her bad leg twinged as if in sympathy. The fish muffled her sigh as she began picking her way downward.

It did not stifle the small cry that escaped her lips when her ankle rolled and she fell forward, in part because it flew out of her mouth when her chin hit the dirt hard.

Cinar did not often patrol at night, relying on his ears alone didn't make him the best candidate for it. However the days were growing shorter, and he was yet to adjust to it.

The sound of a cry straightened his ears, straining to hear anything further before he began a swift trot forward. He had his suspicions, but it didn't make it any less alarming when he found Towhee toppled over. The site of a fish worried him that she may have overdone it; the nearest lake wasn't exactly a short trip for someone who was elderly or pregnant.

But his questions aside, he rushed to the side of the elder to help her back up, being sure to cross in front of Towhee so she would have the chance to see him. Towhee, are you alright? She likely wouldn't be able to read his lips from where he stood, he knew that, it was more for his own comfort.

He could smell a stranger on her from here, sending his head whipping behind them to check if they were still present.

The impact hurt, though not as much as the sharp teeth that sank deep into her tongue. Towhee’s second cry was muffled… by the blood flooding her mouth. She’d made enough kills in her life that it wasn’t exactly a novel experience, though it had never been her own. The pain was something else too, especially when she tried to move the pierced muscle.

Fuuuuuh, she swore, only it came out oozy and thick, like the red fluid spilling between her teeth.

Her tongue was not only bleeding profusely, it was swelling profusely too. Towhee parted her jaws and let it flop out of her mouth, then turned her attention to her leg. The whole thing throbbed. She groaned, pulling it gingerly toward her body as she arranged the other three underneath her, preparing to stand.

Before she could, her eyes snapped to a silhouette hovering nearby. She tried to say Cinar’s name, though nothing came out but some garbling noises. Somewhat unaware of this, she finished standing, her hind paw held off the ground momentarily. Only slowly did she let it take her weight. It hurt, though not bad enough that she couldn’t use it.

I, she began with a wince, shaking her head and switching to signing, -I fell on my fucking face.-

She had no idea if he would understand.

Well, shit. Good thing he had been paying attention when Ptero accompanied the Redhawk's speech. Enough to pick up familiar pieces, anyways. Maybe it was time to learn a third language.

Searching her face for a moment, he soon concluded that the blood was from her tongue. Towhee wasn't going to die from that, probably. Do you want to go back to the den? He asked, I'm going to call Alivia either way. Whether or not the healer would be able to do much, he didn't know.

He was going to question her about the stranger's scent, but it wasn't the priority right now. He doubted that someone would come around to push an old lady and immediately leave, anyways - it was more likely that it was an accident and the scent had nothing to with it.

She supposed words—signed or spoken—weren’t really necessary. It was pretty clear she’d taken a bad spill. Towhee grimaced, grunting assent at his first question and making no reply to his second. Now that she felt steady on her feet, she was too busy raising a foreleg to wipe the blood from her mouth… and discovering the tender abrasion on her bristled chin.

Way, the Elder slurred, before resorting to Ptero again. -Can you pick that up? I don’t want it to go to waste.- She pointed a toe at the catfish. -Then, yeah, let’s make our way to the Hobbit Hole.-

As she winced and prepared to shuffle after Cinar, Towhee let out a wet breath. She might have a mouthful of blood and a mangled tongue, though she hadn’t broken any teeth. And although it was a shitty way to end an otherwise wonderful day, she was kind of glad her face had taken the brunt of it.

Hope you enjoy your iron infusion, Towhee thought toward the babes tucked safe and sound in her distended midsection.

Cinar watched Towhee, eyes following her gesture to the fish. He shot up a call for @Alivia to meet them outside of the den before picking it up.

Joining up at Towhee's side as an offer of support, Cinar was glad to begin making their way towards an area he knew to be safe. He hoped the pups were either asleep or still out playing away from the den, they didn't need to see their great grandmother so beat up.

Want me to tell the others you were beating up an intruder? He teased with hopes of lightening the mood,  though he wasn't sure he would entirely understand whatever her response was.

Cinar howled, presumably for Alivia, then snatched up the fish. When he moved to her side, she bobbed her head to indicate she was ready and fell into step beside him. She didn’t need the extra support, thank goodness, but it was reassuring to have him walking alongside her in the dark. Hopefully he would see any obstacles before she tripped again.

They reached the Hobbit Hole without further incident, though the pain was pretty intense and her stomach was starting to protest all the blood she’d swallowed. Even more of it drooled out of her slack jaw as she turned carefully to face Cinar and caught his remark. Despite everything, she huffed a laugh, then winced.

-Tell the others I ran into Bushtit and we talked so long, my tongue fell apart,- she joshed right back. -I wish he’d come back with me,- she added, catching herself before she sighed and aggravated her throbbing tongue. -This probably wouldn’t have happened. So this is technically all his fault,- she groused playfully with silent, deft movements.

Alivia made her way to toward the Hobbit Hole as quickly as she could in the dark without becoming injured herself. A late-night emergency call was never a good thing, but she was particularly concerned about being summoned to the Hobbit Hole. Was there an issue with Towhee's pregnancy? 

The scent of blood in the air redoubled her concern. When Towhee and Cinar came into view, Alivia rushed forward to assess the situation. She winced at the gash on the Elder's jaw, then noticed the blood-tinged strings of drool hanging from her mouth. 

Alivia tossed her medkit onto the ground and spoke. 

"Shit, Towhee, what does the other guy look like?" She couldn't help but crack a small joke, relieved that the issue did not seem to be pregnancy related. "Lean forward, let the blood drain. Don't swallow it. It's your tongue, is that right?" Alivia squinted through the darkness. "Just hang your tongue out and pant. The bleeding should slow in a minute." 

"Did you see what happened, Cinar?" Her gaze slid to his gilt-edged features.

Cinar offered a polite chuckle, taking from her laugh at the bits and pieces he could understand that Towhee was trying to be funny with.. whatever she had said.

He was glad when Alivia joined them, tail waving behind him for a short moment. She fell, from what I understand. He responded, eyeing the elder. ..I need to properly learn Ptero. He admitted with a frown, taking it as a note for himself. That could be a later issue.

Do you think her tongue will be alright? That seemed to be the most concerning injury, to him. Towhee couldn't even speak! But he wasn't the expert here.

Cinar looked a little bemused. Towhee wondered just how much he’d understood, though before she could ponder that further, Alivia materialized from the gloom. The Elder saw her expression shift as she assessed the situation, quickly zeroing in on Towhee’s damaged mouth. She bobbed her head.

Unfortunately, the advice to avoid swallowing blood came a little late. Abruptly, Towhee’s stomach heaved and she projectile vomited what looked like black liquid all over the bare dirt at her feet. She didn’t heed the strange color, however, as she was too busy gagging on her swollen tongue, the gashes smarting terribly after the acid bath.

-Fuck,- Towhee signed jerkily. -That was unpleasant.- Quite the understatement. -I fell and bit it,- she added, concurring with Cinar’s statement right as he confirmed her earlier suspicion.

Livi had told her to let her tongue loll, so she did that now. Every twitch was agonizing as she let the throbbing muscle dangle over her teeth. An absolutely volatile mixture of bile, blood and saliva dripped in sticky ropes, joining the ominous puddle at her feet. Towhee just tried to breathe through the pain, not bothering to keep up with the conversation as she let her eyes fall.