Firefly Glen (PHE) The ballad of the witches’ road.

She knew it was probably irresponsible and selfish, though Towhee at least took every possible precaution before heading out to join the great hunt. She packed a bundle of supplies in the same wrap she’d carried Bushtit in once before, then asked @Towhee Jr to escort her and the baby. They would take lots of breaks on the way. As soon as they reached their destination, Jr would return home to hold down the fort with @Seal and @Otter. She would come pick up her mother and brother in two weeks’ time, if Towhee didn’t cajole @Reyson, @Meadow and their kids to escort her home earlier.

After several days and many rest stops, the matching Towhees and their little invert arrived at the edge of the glen. Towhee Jr didn’t linger, departing to the west and leaving Towhee Sr to nose Bushtit toward the hustle and bustle of the camps. She knew @Kukutux was probably very busy, though Towhee hoped to locate her to show off the baby—and thank her again, of course. After that, she supposed they would seek out Reyson and Meadow’s campsite.

Amid the hustle and bustle of helping marshal the troops toward this collective hunt-thing—being a good little lieutenant to Sialuk, whom he still hoped to win over in a romantic sense—Killdeer found himself exhausted, physically and mentally.

Leaving him quite vulnerable to the nearby scent of his grandmother. . .because who doesn't want to go snuggle their grandma when they're feeling—well, any kind of way?

Only, he was about to discover the two of them would not be alone.

-Gramma Towhee,- he greeted her upon arrival, though his eyes were trained toward the youth at her paws. He couldn't be more than a moon or so, right? -Who the heck is this? And what are they doing here?-

It couldn't be. . .COULD it? 

Killer felt his stomach flip in disbelief at the thought—though he supposed it was better that she be running her own kid all around creation with her, rather than someone else's. Marginally better, anyway.

I have no idea whether he knows IC or not so I called an audible and said he doesn't! Feel free to correct if I'm wrong and I can edit

kukutux did not understand. like killdeer, worry rose. towhee had been upon her borders not long ago with the pup newly born; now the child was here, among so many.

quietly she wondered if her companion from the sun mote was unwell. it would not do to say aloud. but towhee's status as mother and grandmother should have led her to consider these things. it did not, and so concern flowered where kukutux did not allow judgement to grow. perhaps the fear of losing the child to hunger had opened some terror inside towhee that only a mother comprehended. having sung two daughters to sedna, kukutux questioned if she too might have tucked a new child close and never let them from her sight. towhee would be given the warmth of the camps as was best and right, and in doing so, the duck hoped she  might come to feel safer.

"it is good to see your faces," she murmured, stepping alongside killdeer to regard the baby with great warmth. why had towhee come now? why had she not arrived with meadow and reyson and their children? "will you rest in the healing camp with me for a time, towhee? i must at last sit down," she added, turning her attention to killdeer. "will you come with us? i wish to hear all word of the mountain."

A familiar face emerged from the general milieu. Towhee’s heart lurched as she regarded Killdeer, who looked a little frazzled. Bushtit immediately caught his attention, of course, but before she could drop a quip about saying hello to his little uncle, he demanded to know what they were doing here. It wasn’t asked in a particularly positive way, going by his expression.

Before she could think of how to react, Kukutux appeared beside Killdeer. She looked worried. Towhee’s orange eyes flicked between their faces as she reached out to protectively gather her son closer to her. She knew he was very young—too young, even—but she guessed she hadn’t properly prepared herself for the judgments she might receive for bringing him here.

She took a breath and looked to Killdeer first to say, This is Bushtit, my latest and greatest creation. He’s here because I’m here. Towhee paused, eyes sweeping to Kukutux. The copse is very lonesome and quiet with Meerkat et al gone and Reyson’s family here for the hunt, she said, feeling defensive but softening as she said, Don’t worry, Jr was with us the whole way here. And she’ll be back to take us home.

The pale Alpha asked Towhee and the baby to accompany her to the healers’ site. Kukutux said she needed a break, which was probably true, but the Redhawk also figured she was being led to one of the safest areas of the encampment. And she was more than okay with that. When Kukutux requested Killdeer to accompany them, Towhee bit her lip and gave him a hopeful look.

Of course, she murmured, bending to nudge Bushtit again. It goes without saying that we won’t be going anywhere near the hunt. We’re just here to look cute and mingle, Towhee assured both her escorts, maybe eat a little food, do a little grow…

Killdeer stared at his grandmother for a long, slack-jawed moment—because he could have sworn on his father's grave that she had said the kid's name was "Buttshit."

In the wake of that misunderstanding, he didn't realize Kukutux had arrived until she spoke to him directly, and had totally tuned out most of the conversation. Giving himself a brief shake, he looked at moonwoman and nodded, giving her a smile, before turning back to Towhee.

Butt— he began, then stopped with a sudden burst of clarity. Ah, fuck, he had heard it wrong! -Bush-tit,- Killdeer said slowly, carefully. He cast a soft look down upon the little guy. His life had to be nothing short of miraculous; he'd have figured Towhee was too old to have children.

-Who's the dad?- he asked, glancing at Towhee. Maybe it didn't matter. He'd never known his grandmother to have any sort of long-term love a la Eljay & Maia, or Kukutux and her sun man.

perhaps sensing the unsaid questions, towhee spoke. and this she did not understand; why had no one stayed behind to help the mother? this curiosity would be never-ending; kukutux quelled its demand and stepped back. "i welcome you, bushtit," she said formally to the little child.

"that way is the camp of the sun mote," she murmured, gesturing to the curve of moonspear's foothilled region. "if there are things you wish to see, towhee, there are many, many who help the moonglow healers. rest there; sleep and know there are many eyes to watch."

perhaps she could understand not wishing to be alone at such a time. their path would be slow and when they had come to this place, kukutux would call for juniper tea and soft meat to be brought.

Kukutux pointed out the camp where she would find her own comrades, though Towhee didn’t look that way just now. Her eyes remained attentive upon the other woman’s face, catching her every word. Little did she know how much unexpected comfort Towhee found in them.

I figured this was actually one of the safest places he could be, with an ally everywhere you look, she said. I plan to keep him close while we’re here, though maybe I’ll dump him on one of you to go sightseeing once or twice, Towhee added, eyes flicking between her grandson and her friend.

Killdeer’s question earned a slight raise of her eyebrow. She knew it was just natural curiosity, though she had always been weary of this question—not just with Bushtit but with every one of her litters. That made her think of something, a phlegmatic snort suddenly escaping her.

Phox, she deadpanned a beat later, just like all the others. Just in case Killdeer didn’t appreciate her sense of humor, she nudged him and added, I don’t know if the truth will make you feel any better: I don’t even know his name. Because it doesn’t matter. He’s not involved.

They hadn’t had very far to walk, which was good considering the little one pattering alongside her. Towhee bent down to lick the top of her son’s head, grateful that he was such a calm and easygoing child. As soon as Kukutux’s kith and kin brought snacks, Bushtit fell upon them with great interest.

Gigantic parties aside, how are things? Towhee asked, tearing her eyes from the pup to once again ping pong between Killdeer’s and Kukutux’s faces.