Redhawk Caldera Rebel riff.

Towhee couldn’t remember whether she’d ever experienced the early signs of pregnancy. Had she ever had morning sickness? Or weird cravings? She shrugged to herself as she padded along the eastern ridgeline. There was a non-zero chance she wouldn’t know she was pregnant until a puppy tore its way out of her body with all the fanfare of Alien’s chestburster. There was a historic precedent for it.

Whether or not she was growing his offspring, the Elder knew she owed @Hotah a conversation. She’d told him she would seek him out after she returned, so she decided to make good on her word now. Towhee folded into a sit facing the distant Lion’s Head Mesa, taking a moment to enjoy the warmth of the setting sun on her scarred back before shooting a summoning note skyward.

Hotah came at an easy lope, slowing when he caught sight of Towhee perched on the ridgeline. The sun caught along her scars, and for a second he just took her in— then he padded closer, stopping a few paces off.
Didn’t mean to crash your talk, he said, voice low but even. Didn’t realize it was… something private.
He shifted his weight, tail giving a small flick. That brown male— Rodyn, right? Who is he?

She breathed in sharply when he appeared like a wraith, her head swiftly turning toward him. Towhee’s mouth opened to offer some variation of “hello” when Hotah cut right to the chase with a pointed comment about her rendezvous with Rodyn. Then he fired off a question.

Her orange eyes slowly narrowed. It was none of his business and she didn’t owe him any kind of explanation. Besides that, she was his superior. Towhee wanted to put him in his place, though she reminded herself that a little diplomacy might be warranted, considering she might even now be carrying his pups.

Might.

He’s a really nice guy I’ve had a crush on for a year or two, Towhee replied. Yeah, like a silly little girl. Pretty cringe.

Hotah dipped his head, a wry glint in his eye. Hey, I’ve been there, he said, mouth twitching. Cringe and all.
He let the joke hang for a beat before his expression eased. Still— sorry again for barging in. Not cool of me. Didn’t mean to step on something personal.
His gaze softened as it met Towhee’s. How are you, anyway? he asked, voice quieter now, more genuine. Holding up okay?

Hotah’s cavalier reaction to this naked truth caught her off guard. Her eyes remained squinted, wondering if she’d somehow misread him. There was no mistaking the apology, though, and Towhee went very still as she tried to figure out whether he was giving mixed signals or something had been lost in translation.

Her favorite play lately was shrugging things off, so she went with it now. She actually lifted and dropped her shoulders. When Hotah sought her gaze, she looked back at him, her orange eyes slowly unscrewing.

I’m the same old, the Redhawk replied without thinking, a blurt of uncomely laughter following it as she realized that worked on two levels. I have no reason to think I’m pregnant, Towhee added, certain he was wondering, although, you remember how I mentioned my body was a troll…?

Hotah’s brow lifted slightly, the corner of his mouth twitching like he wasn’t sure if he should smile or brace.
So… you think you’re… pregnant? he asked, voice low but even, like he was trying to keep the question from sounding like a verdict.
A short breath left him, almost a laugh. Guess that’d be one hell of a troll.
His eyes stayed on Towhee, steady. Not judging— just… waiting, ready to hear whatever came next.

No, well, that’s the thing, Towhee explained, I’ve had two ‘oops, I didn’t know I was pregnancies!’ I literally didn’t realize until I was shitting out a kid. So there’s a very real possibility I won’t show any signs, on the very off chance I did get knocked up.

She shrugged again, then just looked at him for a moment. They were still pretty much strangers. He seemed easygoing—he definitely struck her as a sort of go-with-the-flow type—but there was no telling. Towhee still wasn’t sure about that shot from the hip when he’d approached.

We barely know each other. Even if the co-parenting gig skips us, we’re still pack mates. I’d like to get to know you better. And maybe I’m flattering myself, but I assume you’d also like to know more about me.

As if to indicate she wanted a nice, long conversation, Towhee suddenly sprawled in the grassy dirt. She made sure to keep her back to the setting sun as she stretched out her legs and let out a little sigh. When she settled, she looked up at Hotah, motioning for him to make himself comfortable.

I know you’re a good lay, she quipped with a mischievous look in her eye, so lay down.

Hotah let out a quiet chuckle, shaking his head. Can’t argue with that logic, he said, and he meant it. There wasn’t much you could say to someone who’d casually dropped that she might be pregnant and seemed more amused than worried about it.
When Towhee sprawled in the grass and gave him that mischievous look, he raised a brow but didn’t think twice. Yes, ma’am, he said, dry but good-natured, and sank down beside her. The ground was warm from the fading sun, and he let some of the tension slide from his shoulders as he stretched out on his side.
He glanced at her, almond eyes catching in the low light. Alright then, he said, voice easy, what do you want to know? My family? My favorite color? Favorite meat?
A faint grin tugged at his mouth.

The “yes, ma’am” earned a raised eyebrow from Towhee, who took it in the spirit intended. Hotah was good at doing what he was told, which was a great quality in a man, in her opinion. A sense of humor was near the top of the list too, so his little quips earned an approving cant of her head.

I already know your favorite meat, she pointed out, thinking of all those poor, defenseless marmots. I don’t care at all about your favorite color, sorry, Towhee went on, not sounding sorry at all, and while I’d love to hear about your family if you want to share, I understand it might be a heavy topic. So if you’d rather keep it light, which she would as well, how about you tell me where you see yourself a year from now? Describe your ideal future plans.

Hotah huffed softly, not quite a laugh, but close. Fair enough, he said about the color, stretching his forelegs out in front of him. The grass was warm under his chest, and it made answering her question feel easier somehow.
A year from now? he echoed, eyes drifting toward the ridge before flicking back to Towhee. Honestly… I just want to be trusted here. Know everyone’s names, where they fit. Be part of something again. A real pack. A family.
His mouth tugged faintly at one corner. Maybe even find a wife someday, he added, like it was half a joke but not really. Though don’t worry, I’m not expecting you to fall in love with me or anything. 
@Trailhawk floated through his mind. 
He rolled one shoulder, easy and open. I just… want to belong somewhere again, and be relied on. A lead hunter perhaps, if we've got those.

Hopefully it wouldn’t take an entire year to learn everyone’s names, though with the turnover rates in this place, the membership might do a total churn by then. What a depressing thought. Towhee shoved it away, focusing on Hotah’s lips as he mentioned a wife and then brought up the elephant in the room.

You can work your way up in the ranks, she assured, and integrate yourself among the rest of the pack. As for a wife… Towhee made a show of looking ponderous. There’s Trailhawk and… no, wait, that’s it. Just Trailhawk. Unless you want to fight Cinar for Livi. That could be entertaining.

Should she explain why her own name wasn’t on the table? Maybe Hotah just assumed it was due to her age. Would she even be alive in a year? But that wasn’t it. Even with Rodyn, Towhee couldn’t really offer her heart, at least not in whole. More years had passed than they’d ever spent together, though her torch for Maxim would never go out.

Hotah’s brows lifted a little as he considered that. Trailhawk. He hadn’t thought about it much, but now that Towhee mentioned her, the pale huntress drifted into his mind— quick, sharp, confident.
Still, if he did end up having pups with Towhee… would that bother her? The thought snagged, uneasy.
I’m in no business to steal women, he said finally, giving his shoulders a small roll. If something ever happens, it’ll be because both sides want it. Otherwise, it’s not worth the mess.
His gaze steadied on Towhee. Right now, I’m just trying to be useful here. Learn the names, pull my weight, not cause trouble. A faint grin tugged at his mouth. Pretty low bar, I know— but it’s a start.

He hadn’t put up a fight for her, so his answer didn’t particularly surprise her. Trailhawk was a prize unto herself, so he would be lucky if he ever caught her eye. Towhee wondered if it would be weird to play matchmaker. Maybe she should hold off until she knew for certain whether he was her baby daddy…

There’s nothing wrong with pacing yourself or celebrating small milestones, the Elder replied. On that note, how long have you been here now? A month? And you’ve slept with a leader. I think that deserves some recognition. Consider yourself officially promoted to Resident.

He probably couldn’t sleep his way to the top, though hopefully the boost would please him. Climbing higher would require a little more time and effort. If he aspired to carve out a niche as a lead hunter, he could soon find himself a Journeyman or even a Maven. It was all up to Hotah.

Hotah bumped her shoulder lightly with his nose, a laugh slipping out. You’re making me sound like some sort of knob, he said, eyes warm with amusement. I typically don’t sleep with women on the first date, you know. Consider yourself a catch.
He stretched his forelegs out, sinking deeper into the grass, still grinning. Thanks for the promotion, he added, glancing at Towhee. Resident sounds official. Does it actually mean anything different, or just a shiny new title to go with my stellar reputation?
His grin lingered, though his thoughts drifted. What would Trailhawk think if she heard that? She’d probably just smirk and tell him to focus on hunting. And then there was Amalia— the matriarch— who he hadn’t even met yet. She might not be thrilled to know her newest packmate had already tangled with one of the leaders.
He snorted softly to himself. And Alivia— another name he only knew in passing. She’d probably write him off as trouble before he even said hello.

Here I thought it was self-explanatory, Towhee ribbed. Of course it means something different. It means you passed probation and you’re officially one of us. You earned it. Now don’t fuck it up.

There was probably a joke in there somewhere, though the Elder couldn’t be arsed to find it just now. Instead, she took a moment to think of what else to inquire of him. He might have earned himself a more official role, though there was still much Towhee didn’t know about Hotah.

She supposed there was one very obvious question she could ask: Do you have much experience with pups?

Hotah dipped his head once. 
I won’t, he promised, voice steady, meaning it. He would not squander the trust she and the others had shown him.
Her question, though, softened him some. His eyes flickered to her, thoughtful, before he drew a breath.
Yes, he said simply. Two litters. Both from women of my old pack. We did not… keep only one mate. Not in that way. He shrugged a shoulder, not ashamed but aware it might sound strange here. Children were raised together. All pups had many mothers, many fathers. No one went without.
There was a faint smile at the memory, though it was tinged with something heavier too. It is different here. But yeah— I know the weight of little teeth at my heels. And the joy.

Her eyes widened when Hotah told her he not only had experience with pups in general, he’d fathered a few litters. That he’d sired them on different mothers barely registered, not that it made any difference to Towhee. Actually, she liked the sound of what he described, even though her heart was as monogamous as her body wasn’t.

Are you sure it’s so different here? she teased after recovering from her initial shock. For some reason, I just assumed… well, it doesn’t matter. I’m glad you’ve done the dad thing before. Even if I don’t end up needing any help, we still have pups here who could use guidance. I’m sure Carolina and Lyric would love some hunting lessons.

That made her think about his comment about learning names. Had he met the children yet, even in passing? Had he spent any time with their parents? Towhee suddenly had a task in mind.

It’s pretty clear you want to get to know everyone here and do your part. If you haven’t already, you should work on introducing yourself to everyone, spending a little time with each member of the pack. Think you can manage that, Resident Hotah?

Hotah’s head tipped, a slow, thoughtful nod tugging at his muzzle.
I thought same, he admitted with a low chuckle, one mate, one den, one set of pups. But—maybe I’m wrong. Every place got its own ways. His eyes warmed as he studied her, not pushing for more than she offered.
At the mention of Carolina and Lyric, his ears pricked. Hunting lessons, mm? That, I can do. I’d be glad to. Any pup who wants to learn—otters, deer, even marmots. His grin tugged wider, clearly amused by the memory of her teasing.
Her task was met with an eager dip of his head, brows raising. I can do that. Start tomorrow, even. Names, faces, where they belong. Won’t take a year this time. A glint of humor sparked in his eyes before he added, softer, Resident Hotah will make good on it!

He promised to start tomorrow, which prompted Towhee to turn her head slightly. The sun had sunk below the western rim of the caldera and the horizon beyond it. Shadows crept into corners as the air cooled. She might be deaf but she could hear the cozy warmth of the Hobbit Hole calling to her.

Slowly rising, Towhee stretched and said simply, Good. Once you get to know everyone, you should know it’s an option to live in the Hobbit Hole. It’s up to you, though. I know some like their privacy.

If she did end up pregnant, that would be where she would whelp. Towhee knew that much. She reminisced about the various births she’d witnessed there—including her own—and drew in a deep breath of the darkling air.

Well, it’s past my bedtime. See you later, Hotah.

The Elder made a point to pad past him, offering a friendly nudge to his shoulder as she did. She then began loping downhill, toward the silhouette of a certain tree and the familial den just beneath it.

Hotah dipped his head at her words, a thoughtful crease to his brow. The Hobbit Hole. He’d seen the dens from afar, but the way she spoke of it gave it weight, a kind of history he could almost feel in his bones. Maybe one day he’d belong to it, too.
The nudge to his shoulder earned her a small, quiet grin. He straightened as she moved past, watching the shape of her fade into the settling dark.
Sweet dreams, Towhee, he called after her, voice warm, steady. A promise tucked inside the simple wish.
He lingered a moment longer, listening to the hush of the evening, before turning back toward his own rest. Tomorrow, he would start.

thanks for the thread!