Redhawk Caldera My "people skills" are "rusty."

Elwood had, indeed, made a delivery a few minutes before. Then, feeling an urgent need to relieve himself, he had slipped away from the shelter in order to do his business. By the time he returned with an empty bladder, most of the meat had been chewed clean off the leg; in some places, the bone was visible. He was impressed by the quick work the four puppies had made of the meal.

His attention was drawn to Towhee, who, despite her handicap, was growing right alongside her siblings and seemed to be adapting quickly. While they babbled around her, she had developed a system of reading lips and communicating with body language. Elwood wasn't an expert at interpreting her cues just yet -- her sister, Raven, was much more proficient -- but he wanted to make sure that he fostered his relationship with his deaf goddaughter.

He laughed at the sound of her raucous burp, realizing it was a shame that she couldn't hear it herself, then lowered himself to the ground near her. "Was it good?" he said slowly, exaggerating the shapes of the words with his lips. He couldn't help but feel a bit foolish, and glanced up at Raven for encouragement.