Redsand Canyon rockstar everyday

It made the most sense to drop by Mereo first, since it was closer and because he really wanted to see @Killdeer. He wouldn’t mind catching up with his mom too, and any of the other Redhawks that had come to roost in the canyon.

A cool wind pushed at his back as he approached, thunderheads gathering at the distant horizon. As he lifted his snout to announce his presence, he already smelled petrichor on the air.

She probably wasn't who he wanted, but that definitely didn't matter to Tierra, who had been waiting for one of the two of them to show up. Finally!

HEY BUTTSNATCH!! She hollered it at the top of her lungs as she approached, but she was grinning as she ran straight at him. She wasn't going to take him out but she was absoooolutely going to make him think that and then hug the shit out of him.

Plus, now hanging out with him totally counted as patrolling, and as long as she was here, she didn't have to do a thing anywhere else.

Any number of wolves might shout those words at him, though Caracal’s ears perked as he registered that voice. It was one of the twins! But which one? He always seemed to guess wrong. Even as she barreled toward him, the yearling just squinted, trying to figure out if it was Tierra or Sphyra.

Sup—oof, he said as they made impact. Only when his sibling’s scent threaded into his nose could he really be positive, even as she knocked the wind out of him. Tierra? he squeaked with some surprise, tail wiggling despite his struggle to breathe.

Tierra might have been trying to not seem too enthused about seeing her brother, but she showed her hand a little when she didn't try to convince him she was Sphyra. When they were younger it had gotten a little old, always being mistaken for her sister, so she had tended to play along just to make the other wolf feel dumb when they realized.

Duh! Unless, is Sphyra around too? Were you two traveling together?! Without her!? Some of her happiness edged into anxiety as she let him out of the bear-hug she'd been subjecting him to. She was going to be pretty bummed if she'd missed some kind of sibling escapade while she was off being awesome solo. Especially if Caracal and Sphyra were suddenly all buddy buddy and she was being left out.

She hoped he said yes, but also really really hoped he said no.

He didn’t really have the air to spare, yet he laughed all the same at her, “Duh!” Before she released her hold on him, he nipped at her cheek. His sisters had always given him a hard time growing up but Caracal was used to the dynamic by now and didn’t mind it.

Nah, he replied to Tierra’s mildly affronted question, I haven’t seen her in a while. We bumped into each other a few months back but she didn’t seem to want company, he reported, brushing himself off after righting himself, still trying to catch his breath.

Once he felt normal again, he asked, Do you live here now? Out of the two, he would’ve expected Sphyra to settle here, though it wasn’t so unusual that he’d press her about it. I came to see Killer… mom, too. And I guess Auntie Woo and Uncle Ph are still here, huh? Caracal could’ve made a joke about the Redhawks taking over but instead asked, How is everyone? And everything?

That sounded wayyyyy more like Sphyra actually. It was a little mixed that she wouldn't be getting to see her sister after all, but she was glad they hadn't formed some sort of super-pal-squad and left her in the proverbial dust.

I sure do! She proclaimed proudly, lifting her head up and puffing her chest a bit. I'm a whole Auxillary. Whatever that means. I didn't really want to live with dad since everyone there is kind of family. There's a lot of family here too, I guess, but there's a lot of everyone else too. She smiled and emphasized it teasingly. Sphyra never really liked her boy talk, but at least Caracal didn't really make fun of her for it.

It's intense though. The lead guy, Germ something, has a real stick up his butt. I guess he and Aunt Rue are married or something. I don't know how she can stand it. Their lesson hadn't ended as poorly as it started, but Tierra couldn't help blowing things a little out of proportion when confiding in her brother. He has us, like, constantly training. Who does that? She rolled her eyes for effect, huffing out a breath at her clear victimhood in this situation.

Caracal’s lips pursed when Tierra mentioned their dad. He knew exactly what she meant. He remember how awkward and out of place he’d felt, chancing across Reyes and his girlfriend at the caldera. Total cringe. He did a mental hand wave at the memory, paying closer attention to his sister’s words.

I’m exhausted just hearing about it, he quipped in reply to Tierra’s complaint, grinning. Well, if Sphyra ever shows up here, maybe you can hand her ass to her, huh? He paused before admitting in the next breath, I kinda forgot Auntie Woo got hitched. Wait! Are they gonna have kids?

Tierra preened when Caracal talked about her kicking Sphyra's butt with her newfound (debateable) prowess, but she had to stop herself from rolling her eyes again when Caracal mentioned "Auntie Woo". To her, it was a representation of how much more obviously mature she was than Caracal, that she could call their aunt by her correct name and not some nickname they'd known her as when they were kids. They were nearly a year old, after all. When Towhee did it she barely noticed, but it was easy to pick it out as something critical when it was her brother.

I dunno. Probably. Tierra actually hadn't made it a point, yet, to talk to Rue. She'd been so busy doing everything else (and avoiding everything else) that it had totally slipped her mind. Plus, she hadn't really been around, had she? I haven't talked to her. Since I'm learning to fight and all, and she's in charge of the plebeians. Totally their title. She still hadn't gotten past that.

Maybe you should join and become one, actually. You've always been good at doing what you're told. She couldn't let it go too long without getting a little dig in there, though her tone was more jokey than mean. Tierra actually did wonder what he was up to. He said he was here to 'see Killdeer', but where was he normally? Especially if it didn't seem like he was living with dad?

His lips pursed at her vague answer, though only because Caracal was hoping there might be puppies here he could visit. Besides, they would be his cousins! Alas, there were none—at least, not yet—otherwise he was sure his sister would know about it.

He snorted good-naturedly at the dig, sharing, Actually, I joined a pack out west. Don’t make me try to say its name… I’m learning how to be a medic. That’s part of why I wanted to come by, actually: I wanted to let everyone—well, mostly Killer and Towhee, but anyone else who might care—know where to find me.

He also planned to swing by Sapphique and see how Meerkat and her family were doing, daring to hope that she might have puppies to visit. But Caracal didn’t mention that plan just now, instead asking, Think you could take me to mom, by any chance? Or will—did you say the leader’s name is Germ?—will he beat me with his butt stick?

Come to think of it, he’d sort of met the guy. At least, Caracal presumed he was one of the two who’d come and spoken to Phox on his last foray here. Neither of those dudes had seemed particularly friendly but they hadn’t chased him away either. Perhaps they might not mind if he came inside, as long as he had an escort in Tierra?

I have no idea when this is set and also have been neglecting the heck out of Tierra lol. So if it's after and Towhee wants to give him the news, feel free. I am just assuming Tierra hasn't bothered to keep in the loop since it's easiest

Tierra hadn't actually seen much of their mom these days. Not because she was avoiding her or anything, she was just so busy with the new setting and new faces, the more familiar things had fallen to the background.

He can try. He's probably too old to bend that much. She laughed at her own rude joke, then waved a paw. C'mon. She's probably hanging out with Maxim. I dunno if she's, like, hanging out with him. But he is super cute, so I wouldn't blame her. Tierra chatted easily as they walked, drawing out her descriptors of Maxim appreciatively as she remembered the few times she'd seen him. Her mom would have to be crazy not to try and get ahold of that, right?

Probably should have been weird, but for Tierra, things like that never were. As much as she loved both of her parents, she had gotten past the point where she ever considered a world where they were together. Instead she was now fully in the stage of congratulating them on their conquests (and eagerly looking forward to a few of her own).

I refuse to NPC my own toons anymore due to thread logs, so… *yeets her in here* The tags are for reference, though anyone’s welcome to pop in here!

After a midday call at the palazzo, Towhee decided to stretch her legs with a patrol. En route to the borders, she spotted two of her children up ahead and froze in her tracks. Caracal and Tierra were talking animatedly to one another and hadn’t noticed her yet. Her face broke into a grin and she trotted forward to close the gap, letting out a loud boof.

Hey! she greeted her son fondly, reaching out to nudge his cheek and shooting a smile at Tierra. I’m sure Killer’s around here somewhere… Towhee said, knowing exactly who Caracal was here to see. Actually, he was probably patrolling, so she should steer this party of three back toward the borders, but another idea hit her.

Why don’t we head to my den to hang out and catch up until he turns up? Towhee proposed, including both of her children in the invitation. She wondered if @Maxim might be there. She’d like to introduce him to Caracal, then maybe send Maxim over to the palazzo to see if @Germanicus and @Ruenna would mind a special visitor.

She didn’t mention any of that out loud just in case, though it made her think of her own good news. My new partner, Maxim, might be there. We’re actually expecting a litter in another month or so, Towhee said as she began striding in that direction, orange eyes slinging back to Caracal’s face to catch his reaction.

Maxim? Caracal echoed. By the sound of it, their mom had a new boyfriend. His nose wrinkled but he laughed. It was a little weird to think of Towhee with anyone in that capacity but he supposed he didn’t begrudge her that.

As if cued by the gossip, the Redhawk matriarch appeared and approached. Caracal’s whole face lit up and he bounced on his heels as his mom greeted him. He let out a whoosh of laughter when she immediately mentioned Killdeer. He knew his favoritism didn’t bother Towhee; she was just as fond of the boy, after all.

’Kay, he agreed readily when invited to visit Towhee’s den. He threw an elbow at Tierra, hoping she’d come along too, then bounded after their mother. He threw an appreciative glance around at the surrounding canyon as they moved toward its interior, though his attention quickly returned to Towhee.

Partner? he echoed a little incredulously to her own mention of Maxim, wondering just what the heck that meant, when she said something far more interesting. Wait!? What!? I’m gonna be a big brother!?

Tierra was happy to turn the conversation over to Towhee, though she gave a slightly smug 'I told you so' look to Caracal when her mom talked about Maxim. She was pretty ambivalent to the news about siblings - it was cool but it wasn't hugely of interest to her. Her mom's relationship status, on the other hand? A little more.

-Did he propose? Are you gonna take his name, or are you keeping yours? Was it romantic?- Tierra had a habit of firing off questions and her signs were flying.

-I knew it, anyway. He was here way too much.- Satisfied that her detective skills (and nose for drama) were fully functioning, Tierra took the opportunity to try and return her brother's favor with the elbow, finishing her sign with a light jab his way.

The look on Caracal’s face earned a pleased look from Towhee. But she didn’t have time to say anything else before Tierra jumped in, firing questions at her. Towhee blinked, thrown by them. She had been with Maxim for quite some time now. Her eyes squinted. Maybe Tierra was just joking?

She didn’t say anything else until the three of them reached “the pad” and settled inside. I can’t tell if you’re being serious, Towhee said to Tierra, though she faced Caracal, answering his sister’s question for his sake if nothing else. Maxim and I have a business partnership, not a romantic one. We both wanted kids and the leadership here requires marriage for that, so… Towhee shrugged. I’m due in a month, maybe a little more.

While she was more than happy to share that, Towhee didn’t just want to talk about herself. How about you? Are you still meandering? She didn’t like that he was traveling by himself now that Killdeer had settled here. But he was a big boy, so she kept her opinion to herself and waited to see what the yearling would say.

Tierra gave voice to some of the questions running through his mind, which was kind of weird. How recent was this news, if she was just now learning about it too? Had Towhee gotten knocked up by this Maxim guy yesterday? In that case, Caracal patted himself on the back for his impeccable timing.

Whoa, what’s all this? he wondered aloud when they came to the housing. Towhee didn’t answer, which wasn’t exactly surprising considering he’d asked her back. This is so cool, he said as they headed into one of many stone dens, this time making sure his mother was looking his way.

She sat down on a comfy pallet near the wall and Caracal popped a squat on the bare floor nearby, attention riveted as Towhee told him about her marriage(!!!) and pregnancy. She made it plain as day that it was not a classically romantic arrangement, though it still made Caracal feel a little funny. Was this faceless man his stepdad now…?

Pushing that thought aside, he grinned. I’m happy for you, mom! Mostly, he was excited about younger siblings, though he wouldn’t begrudge Towhee her partner either, even though Caracal didn’t really understand how that worked—the business partnership, not how babies were made! He knew how that was done and cringed when the thought of his mom doing that floated through his mind.

Oh, he piped up when she inquired after his own goings-on, certainly glad to be rid of that mental image, actually, I’m living with a pack out west now. It has a really weird name I can’t pronounce, but it’s not far from that Sun Mote Copse place! Caracal reported excitedly. We live on a mountain called Bimbos Summit or something like that. I’m actually apprenticing with a lady named Lane; she’s teaching me how to be a medic.

Caracal glanced over at Tierra and wondered, Do you live in a den like this? He was kind of jealous, this Mereo place looked pretty rad. No wonder Killdeer had decided to stay here.

Of course she was being serious, though the look her mom gave her shut her up for the moment. Which was fine, since she turned and addressed Caracal instead, directing the answers at him and only getting to the first. Tierra's feelings were immediately hurt, and her previous satisfied smile disappeared, but she wasn't about to make a big deal out of it in front of her brother.

She hadn't really spent enough time with her mom to have any of these questions answered, and the attempt to relate on the level of her own interests like that being immediately rebuffed stung a lot. So did the fact that she was nearly completely ignored in every aspect of the follow up. She was about to make some kind of excuse to bounce out of here when Caracal turned to ask her a question instead.

No. I live with the soldiers and all. And actually, Germawhatsit's probably looking for me. He'll be pissed if I skip training. They could catch up, she wasn't really feeling it right now. I'll see you around though, maybe? She asked Caracal, hoping he'd be hanging out for a bit. If so she'd catch him later, especially if he came looking for Killdeer, since he was likely off that direction too.

entirely skippable since this is so far along, unless somebody wants to interact with him!

he had not expected their house to be gathered with bustling bodies. the chatter loud enough to be heard from outside but not so loud that he heard every word. were things wrapping up or just getting started?

either way he felt a bit...awkward. barging in so suddenly when towhee clearly had guests. the right and proper thing surely would have been to go inside and introduce himself to the gathering.

instead he lingered not but a yard or two away outside. finding a stone to perch on and wait. perhaps if they didn't wrap up in a few minutes he would introduce himself.

Bimbos Summit? Towhee echoed incredulously. Surely she’d read that wrong. She glanced between her two adult children. She knew Caracal had his moments but Tierra was no idiot. Maybe the two of them were fucking with her by playing dumb today. She squinted at them, laughing through her nose and shaking her head.

She probably should’ve corrected Tierra about the Imperator’s name, though she didn’t see the point when they were just hanging out casually like this. Towhee shot the yearling an approving grin and a nod when she announced she should take off to attend training. She made a note to hang out with her more later… just in case she wasn’t kidding around and the two of them really were that out of touch.

See you, she said fondly to the departing Tierra before turning back to her son and saying, So you’re living in the hinterlands now… huh. Any particular reason you picked that pack? It was pretty damn far from everyone who meant anything to the kid, but maybe that was the point?

Caracal openly snickered at the leader’s name according to Tierra, casually throwing out an arm to smack playfully against her shoulder as she prepared to leave. He was sorry to see her go, though he imagined she took her training with Germanicus seriously, just like he took his apprenticeship with Lane.

Actually, I’m not going to be here long. I just wanted to stop by and say ‘hi,’ then I’m heading to Sapphique to see Meerkat. His eyes shifted to Towhee’s face as he said this. I was gonna see if anyone wanted to come with me, he added, glancing between mother and sister now, the invitation wide open.

He shrugged at Towhee’s question, since there really wasn’t any particular reason, when he looked toward the doorway again and suddenly noticed, Mom, there’s some dude creeping on your hut.

I dunno if Starr plans to post again, but either way… *pulls Maxim in here* :D

last for me!

They didn't argue which was more than fine by her. She'd get over the sting in a pretty short while, but at the moment, she just needed to get some space from the perceived rejection. Fortunately Tierra tended to get more hurt than angry over this kind of minor misunderstanding.

Okay. Next time, then. The clearest signal that something was up was maybe that she skipped on the opportunity to take a final shot at him, but she was out and gone in a few short moments. She barely noticed (or acknowledged) Maxim on the way and headed straight towards the practice grounds. Maybe she'd practice some of those moves Germanicus showed her.

one body left, another seemed to notice him. maxim figured his time to lurk had come to an end. so just as swiftly as he had settled, he raised himself up once more.

in the den was towhee as expected and a young man. lanky and ruddy. he could only assume this was one of the man family members of towhee's.

hello, he offered with a flex of his toes as he stood halfway in the entrance and halfway out. i'm maxim, one of mereo's scutarius.

or was he...the only one now?

Towhee’s whole face lit up when Caracal mentioned heading to Sapphique to visit with his older sister. Her children’s kinship would never fail to delight her, even if her expression fell a moment later when she realized there was no way she could go in her condition.

I can’t make a trip like that right now, she said with a thoughtful frown, but I’d love it if you could say ‘hello’ from me and tell her how things are going here. I think your Uncle Phox was thinking of heading that way too, so maybe you two could go together? She doubted Caracal would double back, so her brother could bring her any news from Meerkat’s seaside life. Was she hitched yet? With kids on the way?

Before Towhee could ponder any further, Caracal observed some dude creeping on the den. Towhee rose and peeked through the door, only for Maxim to suddenly fill it as he stepped inside. She huffed a laugh and retreated to her seat upon the deerskin-clad pallet by the rear wall as her partner introduced himself.

Maxim, this is my son, Caracal, Towhee introduced, abruptly remembering her thought from earlier, orange eyes resting on her partner’s face. I don’t mean to send you away right when you just got here but do you think you could head over to the palazzo and see if the Imperator and Matrona would mind a guest? I’m sure Caracal wants to meet his little cousins, if they’re okay with it…

The instant Towhee welcomed him into the den, Caracal knew this must be the one and only Maxim. He stepped aside to make room for the man to enter his own home, tail wiggling. A thought hit him and he smirked halfway through the introductions.

Dad! he shouted, throwing his forelegs wide open as if about to hug Maxim. But then his face cracked and he backed down with a good-natured laugh. Just kidding, Caracal quipped, balling one paw into a fist and playfully bumping it against the guy’s elbow with a, Nice to meet you, man.

But once again, Towhee captured his attention by mentioning puppies. Wait, what? he blurted the same words from earlier. He’d asked Tierra if Ruenna planned on kids but it kind of sounded like she already had some? No shit? Auntie Woo had babies? Hell yeah, I wanna meet ‘em!

maxim's features flickered with surprise. dad! declared so easily from the boy who was most certainly not his child. not...biologically anyway. should he expected to be called dad by all of towhee's children now? he was not sure if this partnership extended all the way to litters before.

but the boy soon dropped it, and maxim warmed now that the surprise passed. welcoming the bump with a thicker, toothy smile.

and it is nice to meet you, caracal.

then he looked to towhee with a knowing look. maxim was all too happy to run errands these days, anything to keep her well.

i will see if they are available for a visit. it is important to meet new family! all of this declared with a happiness, content to play a part in this whole...family ordeal. it was new to him and he was rather desperate to make the most of it.

maxim, if not stopped, would head his way to see @Germanicus and @Ruenna with a respectful appearance — informing them of Carcal and how he hoped to meet his little cousins from his Auntie Ruenna.

I spoke to Ebony and Zoo, they gave the thumbs up for a visit! I’m gonna drop a curtain on this one so it can happen behind the scenes.

Maxim quickly obliged her request, earning a twitch of Towhee’s tail as she gazed after him. She turned to face her son in time to catch his excited remarks. She knew Rue wouldn’t mind if Caracal dropped by, though she worried that Germanicus might not want an outsider darkening his doorstep. And that was fair.

Instead of waiting for her partner to return with word, Towhee poked at her son and said, Let’s head in that direction, you know, just in case… In the worst case scenario, they would be barred from approaching the palazzo and Towhee would probably take her son to hunt down his uncle and nephew instead.

It turned out that Caracal was warmly welcomed by his aunt. While he tossed himself down among his little cousins, Towhee sidled toward the palazzo’s dooryard, motioning for Maxim to flank her. Supposing he did, she offered his cheek a grateful nudge and took a seat to wait out her son’s visit. Afterward, she would take him to see Phox and Killdeer.